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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- Senator Orrin Hatch is in Salt Lake City today holding a hearing on the so-called Patriot Act.
The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee defended the act saying it's imperative to protect the nation while also preserving civil liberties.
The Patriot Act was passed very quickly after the attacks on September 11.
Its proponents say the act is designed to give law enforcement more and better tools to fight terrorism in the U-S.
Testimony is now under way from those who are critical of the act.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
