From MiniPeace

WaPo reports:

House and Senate negotiators, after arguing for months, have reached agreement to extend the USA Patriot Act, the country's main anti-terrorism law, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter announced today....

The agreement makes permanent most parts of the Patriot Act and extends for four years two of the act's most controversial provisions. Those authorize roving wiretaps and give FBI agents access to library, business and hospital records.