And Labour peer, ex-Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd, said the House of Lords "worked" in its current form and there was "little appetite" for reform.

BBC: Clegg unveils plans for elected House of Lords

But they say because it originated in the Senate, it violates a constitutional requirement that revenue bills first pass the House, and therefore it couldn't become law in its current form.

CNN: Bush tax cut fight could derail Senate small-business bill

The legislation - known as Cispa - had previously been attacked by privacy campaigners and the White House itself had threatened to veto the bill if passed in its original form.

BBC: President Obama