• The Protect America Act (Pub.L. 110-55, S. 1927) was signed into law by George W. Bush on August 5, 2007. It modifies the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to allow wiretapping without a warrant in cases where the target of the surveillance is outside of the United States.Wired: New Law Gives Government Six Months to Turn Internet... (August 6, 2007)

• 1. Introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell in August, 2007
  2. Replaces FISA hearings with National Security Agency (NSA) internal processes
  3. Expired in February of 2008
  4. Congress debating whether or not to renew
  5. Critics (such as the American Civil Liberties Union) claim it violates Americans' civil libertiesAmerican Civil Liberties Union: Fact Sheet on the "Police America Act"

• PAA Purpose

  The White House website explains: "The Protect America Act Modernizes The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) To Give Intelligence Professionals The Tools They Urgently Need To Gather Information About Our Enemies, While Protecting The Civil Liberties Of Americans."WhiteHouse.gov: Fact Sheet: The Protect America Act of 2007

• FISA Amendment Passed

  On July 9, 2008 U.S. Congress passed a bill to amend the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) by a vote of 69-28, putting an end to a more than year-long debate over surveillance laws. The amendment expands the government's eavesdropping capabilities and grants immunity to telecom companies who participated in post-9/11 wiretapping.The Herald Bulletin: Senate OK's telecom bill (July 9, 2008)

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