Pubdate: Sun, 03 Nov 2002
Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR)
Copyright: 2002 The Log Cabin Democrat
Contact:  http://thecabin.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548
Author: Jennifer Loven, Associated Press Writer

PRESIDENT SIGNS MEASURE EXPANDING RIGHT TO PROBE FBI CONDUCT

TAMPA, Fla. -- President Bush on Saturday signed into law changes at the 
FBI that include expanding the authority of the Justice Department's 
inspector general to investigate the bureau's agents.

The measures are part of a Justice Department reauthorization bill passed 
easily by Congress.

The bill makes clear that the Justice inspector general can investigate the 
FBI without first getting permission from the attorney general or his 
deputy. Attorney General John Ashcroft already had given the inspector 
general that power, but lawmakers wanted to prevent a future attorney 
general from changing that policy.

The legislation pushes the FBI to improve its computer systems and internal 
police force. It requires several reports to Congress, including one from 
the Justice Department about how it has used its electronic surveillance 
system formerly known as "Project Carnivore."

In another provisions, the bill:

* Creates or makes permanent federal judgeships in several states, 
including Texas, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Florida and Alabama.

* Increases penalties for tampering with federal witnesses or harming 
federal judges.

* Reauthorizes the J-1 visa waiver program, which allows the government to 
waive the requirement that foreigners go home for two years when they 
complete graduate medical study if the physicians agree to work in places 
considered to be medically underserved.

The measure also provides federal resources for research into drug abuse 
treatment and grants for states to operate drug-free prisons and establish 
drug treatment alternatives to prison for nonviolent offenders.

"Our national drug strategy must embrace a comprehensive policy that 
reduces the demand for, as well as the supply of, drugs," said Sen. Orrin 
Hatch, R-Utah, who sponsored the drug provisions with Judiciary Chairman 
Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "To reduce the demand for drugs, we must redouble our 
efforts at prevention and treatment."

The White House announced that Bush, who was on a campaign swing through 
the South for Republican candidates, also signed:

* A bill correcting a legal flaw that now requires certain independent 
political groups -- sometimes called "stealth PACs" -- to report their 
once-secret financial activities to the Internal Revenue Service even when 
they are concerned solely with state and local races.

The organizations would be exempt from reporting to the IRS if they do not 
influence federal elections and publicly report their activities to state 
regulators.

The bill also requires those organizations that collect or spend more than 
$50,000 on federal elections to file electronic disclosures that the IRS 
would have to compile in a searchable database.

* A bill creating a new student visa allowing Mexicans and Canadians to 
commute across the U.S. border to attend American colleges. Under current 
law, part-time commuter students from Mexico and Canada do not qualify for 
student visas.
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MAP posted-by: Beth