Three other amendments that Democrats proposed failed, including one that would have blocked investigators from getting records from libraries or bookstores.

Its disturbing that this survived.

The panel approved a measure related to the Patriot Act that would let one provision expire in 2010, unless extended by Congress, that allows the FBI to wiretap "lone wolf" terrorists who may be operating on their own, without control from a foreign agent or power.

That is good. Anyone could possibly be construed as a "lone wolf terrorist"..

Lawmakers also accepted another Democratic proposal requiring federal agents to give more detail to judges about roving wiretaps, which allow investigators to specify a targeted individual rather than a mode of communication. Investigators would have to file a report to the court when they change where they're monitoring the suspect.

It might be worth noting recent revelations out of London about the identities of the suicide bombers. It appears you might be more likely to spot a school massacre then a well planned terrorist attack.. Not that the Patriot Act will, or is even designed to, help with that.