U.S. Senate approves bill to extend overseas surveillance programs

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 29): U.S. Senate approves bill to extend overseas surveillance programs

The U.S Senate on Friday approved a bill to reauthorize the U.S. government to conduct surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas without first obtaining a court order. In a 73-23 vote, the Senate approved the bill renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act which is due to expire by the yearend. The bill will extend for five more years the ability of U.S. intelligence authorities to conduct its foreign surveillance programs.

With the legislation already approved by the House, the Senate vote will send the bill to President Barack Obama's desk. The president is also expected to sign the bill. Opponents at the Capitol Hill argued the bill should have been amended to protect the rights of Americans who might be surveilled by intelligence agencies' foreign surveillance programs.

Before final passage, the Senate voted against an amendment from Senator Ron Wyden, which would have required the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress on whether any U.S.- based email and phone communications have been picked up in the process of conducting overseas surveillance.

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