midnight tonight to keep pro vigs of the patriot act will expire including one which the controversial bulk phone data program operates. it collects numbers dialed and how long calls lasted but does not capture the contents of conversation and other surveillance provisions set to expire one allowing the government to seek a court order on individuals for business records. the ability to track a nonamerican lone wolf. all powers the administration claims are essential to fighting terrorists. it would be irresponsible, it would be reckless. we shouldn t allow it to happen. reporter: the house passed a compromised bill supported by the administration which would extend the key provisions but reform the bulk data program. that telephone data would be kept in the hands of phone companies instead. will require the government to seek a court order for access.
that was joe johns reporting. the president and first lady of the united states also say they are grieving the loss of beau biden. in less than 24 hours, the controversial u.s. patriot act is set to expire. if that happens, the national security agency will end the government s bulk telephone collection program, unless there is a quick resolution. cnn correspondent has the story. reporter: on capitol hill, time is almost up in a scramble in the senate is about to be on. we shouldn t surrender the tools that keep us safe. reporter: unless the senate acts tonight, key provisions will expire. including one under which the bulk phone data program operates. it collects numbers dialed and how long calls lasted but does not capture the contents of conversation and other surveillance provisions set to expire, one allowing the government to seek a court order on an individual for business records, roving wiretaps for
tonight. three key provisions of the patriot act are set to expire. that would include one which the controversial bulk phone data program operates. this is what collects that meta data telephone numbers, how long a call lasts. it does not include contents of calls. the use of the so-called roveing wiretaps. this allows the government to tap several phones for a person who changes phones frequently. and the lone wolf nonamerican citizens believed to be engaged in terrorism activities but not linked to a terrorist group. they passed a compromised reform bill. that is supported by the white house. that would extend all these previsions but makes some changes to the bulk data program, moving it from the government into the hands of the phone companies. republican senator rand paul vowed to stand in the way today.
about phone calls. can you imagine how big a data center we would need in order to keep tapes or digital recordings of people which incidentally advocates doing away with this have suggested. it s true that the people who want to maintain the patriot act as is have not made the case very well. no. rand paul and others who don t like it have overwhelmed them. it s almost like the gay marriage debate. so my thing is that you could in congress and republicans as you know as everybody know control both houses have a logical debated and compromise on this. we have two debates going on here. debate about section 215 bulk phone data program. there has been a compromise offered by some in the house we have a broader issue here. senator paul once said i want to repeal all of the patriot act. think about that. but that s not going it happen. it s not going to happen but it is a sign that we need to take it seriously.