Specter reintroduced the bill in February and it has been on the committee's agenda since May. Since the introduction of the original measure in 2005, the panel has held multiple hearings and heard from 24 witnesses, he pointed out. In October 2007, the committee reported the previous bill on a 15-4 vote. "If there are objections, let the objectors offer amendments without a continuing filibuster," Specter said.

Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein and Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions have argued the bill could encourage leaks of classified information. Sessions has also claimed it would impede national security investigations and make it difficult to subpoena source material from reporters, especially where the crime is related to classified information. "I'm going to have a hard time voting for this bill," Feinstein said last week.