Patriot Act Expiration Pushed; Major points on NSA’s controversial surveillance period against terrorism concluded for USA Freedom Act

After fourteen years since the 9/11 attack, the Patriot Act has allowed authorities to monitor terrorism, but had also resulted into a clash between liberty and security between American masses. Now that it has come to its ultimate yesterday, it seems that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, basically aspiring for the presidential seat, has taken political spotlight as he asked for cumulative votes for reform, not protraction of the said act.

Despite pursuant efforts for extension laid out by Senator Mitch McConnell, co-Republican co-state senator of Paul, the National Security Agency's collection of domestic phone metadata will all be transferred to phone companies as Paul blocked such plea efforts.

Paul stated in a floor speech that it's only a way of gradually letting our freedom slip away. He convinced the Senate that it is nothing but an illegal act of NSA spying the public.

The expiration of the key points of the Patriotic Act included the NSA's bulk collection of communication data in the section 215, and the so-called "lone-wolf", where law enforcement agencies are allowed to target surveillance at suspected terrorists working alone, and "roving wiretap" control, where they are allowed to keep track of suspected terrorists regardless of a usage of a specific device. The Senate decided to vote in an overwhelming 77 to 17 that the storage of the data shall be shifted towards phone companies, and not in the government, paving way for the USA Freedom Act.

The expiration of these provision means that NSA will no longer collect newly generated phone logs in the bulk. It also denies the consent for the FBI to obtain data for investigations, or wiretap business orders to follow a suspect.

We all remember Edward Snowden's revelation of the Patriot Act as the government's way to control the data collection. And among the many critics of the act was Paul. However, such "tactics" didn't have the same agreeing reactions from other senators.

Republican John McCain said that Paul "obviously has a higher priority on his fundraising and political ambitions than securing the nation". He stated that Paul was only boosting his presidential campaign.

Paul then indicated that the other Republicans were only trying to embarrass him when a terrorist attack occurs. He said the blame will be taken out on him.

While Paul was victorious after the vote, as the US Freedom Act will finally end the surveillance issue, McConnell still remained rigid as her floor speech told about Paul and his other supporters in engaging in a "campaign of demagoguery and disinformation."

As the issue between senators slamming on each other ensues, the White House stated that on a matter as critical as national security, individual senators must put aside their motives and act swiftly, and that the public deserve nothing less.