WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives has approved White House-backed anti-terrorism legislation one day after the Senate passed a similar bill. The House passed the bill by a vote of 337 to 79.
Both the House and the Senate measures expand law enforcement agencies’ authority to use wiretaps against suspected terrorists. They also allow federal authorities to detain foreigners suspected of terrorism for seven days before charging them with a crime or beginning deportation proceedings.
The measures also call for strong penalties on those who harbor terrorists and for increased punishment for terrorists.
The House version calls for some of the provisions to expire in 2004. The Bush administration wants the new restrictions to be permanent, but has indicated it is willing to compromise with lawmakers.
A joint conference committee must now resolve differences between the two versions before a final bill is sent to President Bush to sign.
The Bush administration has been pressing Congress to quickly pass anti-terrorism legislation since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Mr. Bush has called the bill an essential tool to combat terrorism and safeguard America.
