H.R. 3199 Update

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3199, the conference committee report on the reauthorization of the so-called USA "Patriot" Act, by a vote of 251 to 174 but there is still hope to stop it in the Senate. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wi.), blogging at TPM Cafe, reports that Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.), Senator Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Ne.) have joined the opposition to H.R. 3199. A senate vote on H.R. 3199 is expected on Friday.

At CNet News, Declan McCullagh reports on some of the other provisions that have been tacked onto H.R. 3199, including "...mandatory drug testing, cigarette taxes and methamphetamine restrictions..."

Please keep the pressure on your U.S. senators to vote against a cloture motion on H.R. 3199. The ACLU makes it easy to find your senators' contact information.