Stephen Ohlemacher of the Associated Press reports:
Senate votes to extend expiring surveillance provisions of USA Patriot Act for 1 yearThe Senate voted Wednesday to extend for a year key provisions of the nation’s counterterrorism surveillance law that are scheduled to expire at the end of the month.
In agreeing to pass the bill, Senate Democrats retreated from adding new privacy protections to the USA Patriot Act.
The Senate approved the bill on a voice vote with no debate. It now goes to the House.
Read more in the Chicago Tribune.