Yeah, it's called investigative journalism, not many places are keen on that any more. Most just repeat what other places are reporting on.
However, even the average citizen can do some digging. And I came up with this, signed on December 13th.:
H.R.2417
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)
SEC. 374. MODIFICATION TO DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN RIGHT TO FINANCIAL PRIVACY ACT.
(a) MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION- Section 1114 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3414) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(d) For purposes of this section, and sections 1115 and 1117 insofar as they relate to the operation of this section, the term `financial institution' has the same meaning as in subsections (a)(2) and (c)(1) of section 5312 of title 31, United States Code, except that, for purposes of this section, such term shall include only such a financial institution any part of which is located inside any State or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the United States Virgin Islands.'.
(b) CROSS REFERENCE MODIFICATION- Section 1101(1) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 3401(1)) is amended by inserting `, except as provided in section 1114,' before `means any office'.
You can see title 31 section 5312 here:
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/31/5312.html -
As for the other links, you'll need to do the research yourself if you're so inclined, since I haven't been able to find them online, and don't really have time to do a reporter's job.
That's proof enough for me, I'll be calling my Congressman and Senator tomorrow to see how they voted. If they didn't vote against this B.S. they can kiss my vote good by and their opponent just got a big campaign donation.