US Senators vote against NSA bulk data collection bill

The US Senate voted in a 58-42 vote against a bipartisan bill that stops the National Security Agency's (NSA) bulk data collection program, targeting millions of Americans, Sputnik reported.

"This is bipartisan legislation that enjoys the support of the intelligence community and also the tech community," Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz said during the vote on Tuesday evening. "But in my view we should take it up and consider reasonable amendments on the floor to make it better."

The USA Freedom Act sponsored by 19 Democratic and 3 Republican Senators, would end the NSA collection of American citizens' phone records and establish a privacy panel to advise and review the Foreign Intelligence Court decisions.

The bill needed 60 votes to proceed through the 100-member Senate on to the next phase of debate.

"Obviously I'm disappointed by tonight's vote," said Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont following the vote.