As difficult as it is to pass laws, especially potentially controversial laws, sunset provisions on national security legislation provide an opportunity to re-assess effectiveness, impacts on privacy, and opportunity costs.

Five years ago, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) published an important assessment of the Telephone Records Program conducted under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, and I am encouraged to see the Board undertaking a similarly rigorous assessment of the program that replaced it.