The FISA Amendments Act added provisions similar to the Protect America Act of 2007 which had expired. The new provisions were scheduled to expire in 2012, but the Senate extended the FISA Amendments Act for five years, renewing the U.S. government’s authority to monitor electronic communications of foreigners abroad.

The Homeland Security Act (HSA) of 2002 was introduced in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and subsequent mailings of anthrax spores. The HSA was cosponsored by 118 members of Congress. It was signed into law in November 2002.

The USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law on October 26, 2001. With its ten-letter backronym (USA PATRIOT) expanded, the full title is “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001”.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 is a federal law setting procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of “foreign intelligence information” between “foreign powers” and “agents of foreign powers” (which may include American citizens and permanent residents suspected of espionage or terrorism). It has been repeatedly amended since September 11, 2001.