The Patriot Act got a 6 weeks extension and will expire in early February. This cannot pass and become permanent. Just because it has the word "Patriot" in it, doesn't mean that it's all roses. If they had called it the Spit on your Civil Liberties Act, it would never had passed. Spin doctors chose a good name, I must admit.
In the coming weeks, there will be hearings concerning provisions in the act. This should be good.