Pressure is expected to grow.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent agency that last month declared the NSA’s phone records collection illegal, is set to release a new report about the agency in the coming months.

That, plus growing public distrust about the surveillance programs, could turn up the heat on Congress.

And there’s always the possibility of more revelations from Edward Snowden, who first leaked information on the programs.

“We really need action to start soon, and we’re looking for the right combination to push them over that final speed bump,” said Michelle Richardson, a legislative counsel with the ACLU.

One reason for the current delay in the Senate may be that Leahy doesn’t have the votes to get his bill through committee.