WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has cleared the way for President Bush to sign into law a sweeping anti-terrorism bill later Friday. The bill, which the House of Representatives had already approved, passed in the Senate Thursday by an overwhelming vote of 98 to 1.
The new package of laws will give authorities more power to do things such as protect U.S. borders, tap phones, track Internet usage and search homes in pursuit of suspected terrorists.
Speaking to a conference of U.S. mayors before the Senate vote, Mr. Ashcroft said the laws will open a new era of law enforcement. He said the U.S. Justice Department will use aggressive arrest and detention tactics, and terrorist suspects will be kept in jail as long as possible. Mr. Ashcroft said he would immediately put to use these new powers.
The measures also include stronger penalties for harboring or financing terrorists
Wiretapping and surveillance provisions of the anti-terror bill will expire after four years.
The only senator who voted against the bill – Democrat Russ Feingold of Wisconsin – argued the measure does not go far enough to protect civil liberties.
