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Senate approves package of anti-terrorism measures

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, October 25, 2001

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate sent President Bush a package of anti-terror measures Thursday that give police sweeping new powers to search people’s homes and business records secretly and to eavesdrop on telephone and computer conversations.

Bush said he will sign the bill "so that we can combat terrorism and prevent future attacks."

The Senate approved the bill 98-1 a day after the House signed on. But lawmakers, worried about possible abuse of the new wiretapping and surveillance powers, decided to place a four-year cap on that part of the legislation.

"It gives us the time to investigate whether there are any outrageous abuses," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said.

The legislation, somewhat weakened from the administration’s original proposal, expands the FBI’s wiretapping and electronic surveillance authority and imposes stronger penalties for harboring or financing terrorists. It also expands the number of crimes considered terrorist acts and increases the punishment for committing them.

Attorney General John Ashcroft said the Justice Department will begin using the new powers immediately.

Highlights of the bill:

  • Increases the number of federal agents working on the Canadian border.

  • Allows federal officials to get nationwide search warrants for terrorism investigations, including for e-mail and physical searches.

  • Allows federal officials to seize voice-mail records if a judge issues a warrant.

  • Makes terrorism a reason for federal officials to get a wiretapping order.

  • Allows federal officials to get a wiretapping order that would follow a suspect to any phone the person uses.

  • Increases penalties for committing terrorism.

  • Increases penalties for harboring or funding terrorists or terrorist organizations.

  • Allows the attorney general to detain foreigners suspected of terrorism.

  • Makes committing an act of terrorism against a mass transit system a federal crime.

  • Makes illegal the possession of substances that can be used as biological or chemical weapons for any besides a "peaceful" purpose.

  • Authorizes nationwide search warrants for computer information in terrorism investigations, including billing records.

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