(September 19, 2007)--President Bush says if they lose the ability to eavesdrop on foreign terrorism suspects without warrants, the nation's security professionals will be without "critical tools they need to protect our country."

At the National Security Agency's headquarters in Maryland, he urged Congress Wednesday to make the eavesdropping law even stronger and to make it permanent.

Last month, Congress passed the Protect America Act, which the President says helped close a critical intelligence gap and he's asking Congress to make that Act permanent.

It’s set to expire on Feb. 1.

The Act updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act based on advances in modern technology.

FISA was originally drafted in 1978 long before the vast popularity of cell phones, computers, Internet, and satellite technology; something the Administration had long said needs to be updated.

Proponents of FISA's modernization say its vital for the safety of the United States to have broad intelligence-gathering abilities including the ability of warrentless wiretapping, especially when one person is outside the US

But opponents say they worry that giving such broad powers to intelligence-gathering agencies opens the door for privacy abuses.

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