The House continues its consideration for a third day on the Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1) to fund the federal government through September. The measure will then be sent to the Senate for consideration the week of Feb. 28. The current CR expires on March 4.
House lawmakers have been debating and considering amendments to the 359-page measure. Nearly 600 amendments were filed on the spending bill, though not all will be offered or considered.
This morning, the House approved the Senate’s changes to HR 514, a bill to extend expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act through May 27 by a vote of 279 to 143.
The expiring provisions in the bill would allow the federal government to seek orders from a special federal court for “any tangible thing” such as business records; to obtain roving wiretaps on suspected terrorists; and to request surveillance orders on “lone wolf” terrorists who may not be connected to any specific organization.