The Senate on Monday night voted 74-8 to move forward with a bill that would extend provisions of the Patriot Act until June 1, 2015.

The procedural vote puts the legislation on track to pass the Senate Wednesday with a simple majority.

Leaders from both parties supported the bill and said it contains measures crucial to protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks.

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"We have to renew the Patriot Act," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidGOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November Durbin: Democrats can 'slow' Supreme Court confirmation 'perhaps a matter of hours, maybe days at most' Supreme Court fight pushes Senate toward brink MORE (D-Nev.) from the Senate floor. "It is not a perfect law but it plays an important part in keeping us safe."

"Our country faces a sophisticated, lethal threat from al Qaeda, associate groups and self radicalized terrorists," added Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellIn rare move, Schumer forces vote to consider health care bill amid Supreme Court tensions COVID-19 talks hit crucial stretch Supreme Court nominee gives no clues in GOP meeting MORE (R-Ky.) in a statement. "The Patriot Act is one of the critical tools for keeping America safe."

A small but vocal group of senators opposed the bill, however, claiming it erodes the checks and balances of the Constitution and trades privacy for security.

"The Patriot Act takes away some of the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment," said Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulRon Paul hospitalized in Texas The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Rand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case MORE (R-Ky.). "Do we really want to give up our liberties in exchange for more security?"

"Our constitutional freedoms are too valuable" to pass the extension, added Sen. Jon Tester Jonathan (Jon) TesterSenate Democrats want to avoid Kavanaugh 2.0 OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Court removes Pendley from role as public lands chief | Pendley court ruling could unravel Trump's public lands decisions | 1 in 4 adults cite climate change in decision not to have children Pendley court ruling could unravel Trump's public lands decisions MORE (D-Mont.).

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The Senate's version of the Patriot Act would extend the ability of U.S. intelligence authorities to conduct roving wiretaps, gain access to business records and survey "lone-wolf" operators, non-U.S. citizens not connected to organized terror groups but believed to be acting alone. Those authorities expire at the end of the week.

Now that the chances of the legislation's ultimate passage have been bolstered by achieving the 60-vote threshold required for cloture, senators both for and against the bill will try further shape the bill through the amendment process before the final vote later in the week.

Sens. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Battle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy MORE (D-Vt.) and Paul, for example, will seek to include more government oversight of the act's authorities and sunsetting the use of national security letters (NSL) as a basis for justifying intelligence gathering.

The Senate adjourned at 7:04 p.m. on Monday and is set to to return at 10 a.m.

This article was updated at 7:05 p.m. on Monday.











