The Associated Press
(October 25, 2001 7:15 p.m. EDT) - Highlights of the anti-terrorism bill approved by Congress:
- Increases penalties for committing terrorism.
- Increases penalties for harboring or funding terrorists or terrorist organizations.
- Makes terrorism a reason for federal officials to get a wiretapping order.
- Includes $36.8 million to put in place before the end of the year a database program to track the approximately 600,000 foreign students at U.S. colleges.
- Allows federal officials to get a wiretapping order that would follow a suspect to any phone the person uses.
- Allows federal officials to get nationwide search warrants for terrorism investigations, including for both e-mail and physical searches.
- Allows the attorney general to detain foreigners suspected of terrorism. The attorney general then has to start deportation proceedings, during which the foreigner must stay in federal custody, or charge the person with a crime. If neither is done within seven days, the foreigner must be released.
- Enhances data sharing between the FBI, the State Department, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and foreign governments in terrorism investigations.
- Makes committing an act of terrorism against a mass transit system a federal crime.
- Makes illegal the possession of substances that can be used as biological or chemical weapons for any purpose besides a "peaceful" purpose.
- Includes legislation that would fight international money laundering in an effort to thwart the financing of terrorism and protect the U.S. banking system from illicit money.
- Gives the president authority to restrict exports of agricultural products, medicine or medical devices to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia and areas controlled by the group.
- Authorizes nationwide search warrants for computer information in terrorism investigations, including billing records.
- Increases the number of federal agents working on America's northern border.
- Adds a Dec. 31, 2005, expiration date for new wiretapping and surveillance powers.
- Adds a provision that allows people to sue if the government leaks information gained through the new wiretapping and surveillance powers.
- Allows federal officials to seize voice mail records if a judge issues a warrant.
- Bars entry to the United States for prospective immigrants involved in money laundering crimes.
- Requires the FBI to allow a judge to monitor its use of its Carnivore e-mail tracking system.
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