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USA Act and the Financial Anti-Terrorism Act

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The USA Act is an expansion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 and the precurser to the more commonly known USA PATRIOT Act. It was passed by the House (H.R. 2975) on October 12, 2001. The Senate (S. 1510) on October 11, 2001. USA in the USA Act is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America.

The primary difference between the USA Act and FISA is the definition of terrorism. In FISA, terrorism is limited to acts that are "backed by a foreign power." The phrase foreign power is commonly regarded as foreign government. Focus on Al Qaeda after September 11 raised the issue that there are terrorists who are not backed by a foreign government and even those who may act completely alone. In the USA Act, terrorism was redefined to be activity that appears to be intended to (1) intimidate or coerce the government or civil population AND (2) breaks criminal laws AND (3) endangers human life.

The USA Act was quickly combined with the Financial Anti-Terrorism Act to become the USA PATRIOT Act on October 26, 2001.

  • H.R. 2975 The House's version of the bill.
  • S. 1510 The Senate's version of the bill.
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