Anyone have info on status of Patriot Act Reauthorization?

[Wordie]

I am concerned it got passed while everyone was so focused on Fitzgerald and the indictments. There were two versions, House and Senate, last I heard, with the Senate's having some minor revisions that made it the better bill (protective of civil rights). I've searched, but can find no info current within the last week.

Does anyone know what has happened with this?

[RedOnce]

1. While you were, ah, distracted,

Congress was quietly renewing every major provision of the Patriot Act.

Most of the provisions of the USA Patriot Act, including access to library records, were supposed to "sunset" this month, five years after the law's passing. Instead, both the House and the Senate have already voted to renew the entire act, with only minor revisions. While they're at it, they'd like to add some decidedly unpatriotic amendments to expand the death penalty.

http://alternet.org/blogs/themix/27501/

[Wordie]

2. I have seen the alternet site, which says final vote has not happened yet.

What I wanted to know is whether more action has occured since alternet posted their info on October 28, 2005.

Here's what alternet says:
<snip>
Still, the House and the Senate are still in negotiations over the final wording of the bill and so it hasn't been made final yet. The Bill of Rights Defense Commitee is asking people to make one last push to keep it from getting renewed. They list possible actions you can get involved in and ways to educate your communities about threats to civil liberties.

I am presuming that what remains to be passed is a reconcilation of the two versions. Am I correct in that? Any updated information you know will be helpful.

If you are right, it is too late. If indeed the two versions are being reconciled, then, here is info on HOW TO STOP THE PATRIOT ACT!

The following information is from the Bill of Rights Defense Committee: http://www.bordc.org/involved/4thanniversary.php
House and Senate Bills to Reauthorize the USA PATRIOT Act

Conference Committee Update: The House conferees are expected to be named in mid-October. The conference committee will then meet to negotiate a compromise reauthorization bill.

USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
Bill Number: S. 1389; Amended bill text (PDF)
Status: Passed by unanimous consent in a voice vote on July 29. Introduced by Senators Arlen Specter and Dianne Feinstein to the Committee on July 13, 2005.

This bill would keep many of the PATRIOT Act provisions but would add increased public reporting of how some of the act's powers are used and would place greater restrictions on certain warrants, wiretaps and e-mail monitoring. It would also put four-year sunsets on three sections of the PATRIOT Act (206, 215, and lone wolf). See Senators Propose Curbs on PATRIOT Act and BORDC's Summary of S. 1389 page. For a comparison of the House's and the Senate's bills, see Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)'s analysis (PDF).

USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005
Bill Number: H.R. 3199; Amended bill text (PDF)
Status: Received in the Senate on July 25; Debated and passed in the House on July 21 (257-171). The House Judiciary Committee marked up the bill on July 13, adding some sunsets; Introduced by Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. on July 11.

The USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act would make the USA PATRIOT Act permanent and add some minor changes. The bill calls for stronger oversight of the government's power and increased duration of secret warrants governing searches and surveillance in terrorism and intelligence cases. It would set ten-year sunsets on only two provisions (206 and 215). For more information, see Permanent Patriot Act Proposed and House Votes to Extend Patriot Act, and BORDC's Summary of H.R. 3199 page. For a comparison of the House's and the Senate's bills, see Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)'s analysis (PDF).

Take Action:

* Urge your Senators to sign the Dear Conferees letter being circulated in the Senate by Sen. Craig and Sen. Durbin. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
* Ask your Representatives to sign the two Dear Conferees letters being circulated by Rep. Sanders and Rep. Nadler. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
* Defend confidentiality of medical and mental health records!