In a dramatic turnoff events that saw a number of Republicans turning their backs on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Congress has decided to approve a legislation that reforms the controversial US Patriot Act, sending its revision, the USA Freedom Act, to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign into law.
The Senate's 67-32 vote came two days after Congress allowed phone records surveillance and other post-September 11 anti-terror programs to expire, sending the legislation for President Barack Obama, who stated that he would sign it promptly, according to The New York Post.
"It protects civil liberties and our national security," Obama said through his Twitter account.
"I'll sign it as soon as I get it," he added.
The USA Freedom Act would require phone companies to turnover phone records only as a response to a government request approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, according to Reuters.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been the Freedom Act's main opponent, making a strong last-ditch argument against the legislation after a series of amendments that he proposed failed.
"It surely undermines American security by taking one more tool from our warfighters, in my view, at exactly the wrong time," he said in his speech to the Senate.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, however, is thrilled about the outcome of the proceedings. Being a leading advocate in privacy, he pledged that he and his allies would continue to push for more limits on surveillance, Reuters reported.
"This has always been about reforming intelligence policies that do not make America safer and threaten our liberties," he said.
American Civil Liberties Union Jameel Jaffer is also content with the decision, though he believes that more can be done.
"The passage of the bill is an indication that comprehensive reform is possible, but it is not comprehensive reform in itself," he said.
Telephone companies are less thrilled about the potential overhaul of their record-keeping systems as they become repositories of surveillance records.
Despite the inconveniences that the act may entail, Microsoft Corp. General Counsel Brad Smith believes that the passing of the Freedom Act is s definitive step in the right direction, Reuters reported.
"Today's vote by the Senate on the USA Freedom Act will help to restore the balance between protecting public safety and preserving civil liberties," Smith said.
