Tucson, Arizona  Saturday, 13 October 2001
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/11013NAttacks-Congress.html


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - The House on Friday quickly approved anti-terrorist legislation pushed by the Senate and White House to increase the government's power to spy on, detain and punish suspected terrorists.

Before passage, however, the House insisted on changing the Senate package to put a five-year expiration deadline on the most intrusive of the new measures, including roving wiretaps, because of misgivings about civil liberties. It also dumped a Senate money-laundering provision, which is moving separately through the House.

House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said he hoped the Senate would accept the House changes and send the bill to President Bush.

Bush was pleased with the House passage, on a 337-79 vote.

"I commend the House for passing anti-terrorism legislation just one day after the Senate took action," he said in a statement.

"The House and Senate bills are virtually identical. I urge the Congress to quickly get the bill to my desk. We must strengthen the hand of law enforcement to help safeguard America and prevent future attacks - and we must do it now."

Despite the presidential plea, possible delays loomed.

"We will not support a counterterrorism bill that does not have money-laundering provisions in it," said Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "Whether it's done in conference or whether it's done in the House of Representatives, it must be done, and we will insist that it be done."

The Senate approved its version 96-1 late Thursday night.

Both the House and Senate anti-terrorism measures would expand the FBI's wiretapping authority, impose stronger penalties on those who harbor or finance terrorists and increase punishment of terrorists.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee were unwilling to give police some of the powers the Senate did, however, such as allowing secret "sneak and peak" searches of suspects' homes.



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