On June 15th 2005, The US House of Representatives passed a measure by a 238-187 vote curtailing the federal government's access to library and book shop records without a warrant, as had been allowed under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The USA PATRIOT Act (oficially known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001) was passed into law in 2001 by a 98 to 1 vote in the United States Senate, and a 357–66 vote in the United States House of Representative. Concerns over the the the law are widespread and resolutions opposing aspects of the law have been passed in 384 communities in 43 states including seven state-wide resolutions.

In recent weeks, Bush has been campaigning for a renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, which is set to expire at the end of the year. On June 7th 2005, The Senate Intelligence Committee voted 11 to 4 to approve an expansion of the law. The new measure would make permanent eight provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and would also increase government surveillance powers by granting investigators access to an individual's business records and allowing wiretaps and searches without a demonstrated link to terrorism or a federal judge's permission.

Patriot Act Two Passed by Senate Intelligence Committee | White House pushes for renewal of Patriot Act | Electronic Frontier Foundation | Wikipedia: USA PATRIOT Act | Electronic Privacy Information Center