Janet Napolitano talks to Patrick Leahy prior to testifying before the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee Feb. 24, 2010. Senate votes to renew Patriot Act

The Senate Wednesday evening passed a one-year extension to the Patriot Act, a Bush-era homeland security law that has been much maligned by Democrats but described by Republicans as key to the war on terror.

Several key components of the law are set to expire Sunday, including wire-tapping, surveillance and seizure provisions. If passed by the House, they will expire on Feb. 28, 2011.


The law was passed by voice vote, which does not require debate on the Senate floor.

Democrats have been extremely critical of the law, which has been described as overreaching and reactionary. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), in a statement Wednesday, said he "would have preferred to add oversight and judicial review improvements" to the act's renewal.