Terrorism Legislation: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001

Publication Date: October 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

On Thursday, October 25, 2001, the Senate approved House-passed H.R.3162, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act which bolsters the ability of federal authorities to conduct criminal and intelligence investigations, to bar and expel foreign terrorists from the United States, to separate terrorists from their sources of financial support, to punish acts of terrorism, and to address the needs of the direct victims of the events of September 11.

The Act is a merger of two bills, S.1510, and H.R.2975/H.R.3108 which had earlier passed in their respective Houses. It melds the money laundering aspects of S.1510 with those of the free standing, House-passed money laundering bill, H.R.3004. A variant of the House sunset provision survives, but adjustments to the McDade-Murtha Amendment concerning the adherence of federal prosecutors to local ethical standards do not. Detention authority over immigrants suspected of terrorist connections remains; as do the benefits to immigrants victimized by the events of September 11. The President signed the bill on Friday, October 26.