"Americans shouldn't have to worry that their Internet service providers are snooping in their e-mail or accessing the files on their computer for the wrong reasons," Franken said in a statement. "While the Cybersecurity Act does a lot to protect the privacy of American consumers, it also contains provisions that would hurt consumer privacy by allowing ISPs and other companies to monitor email and deploy countermeasures indiscriminately."

But the White House officials said the bill would help protect the U.S. from cyberattacks. "The nation's security is at risk," Brennan said.

"It literally keeps me awake at night thinking the Senate won't act on this," added Eric Rosenbach, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy.

Supporters of the bill are hoping to force a vote on the bill yet this week.

The IDG News Service