Washington (CNN)The Senate reconvened on Sunday afternoon for a rare session in a last-ditch -- and increasingly improbable -- effort to renew provisions of the controversial Patriot Act that are aimed at fighting terrorism.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, vowed Saturday to "force the expiration of the (National Security Agency) illegal spy program" and Senate rules make it all but certain that he will succeed if he follows through on his pledge.
The showdown is largely centered on a key Patriot Act provision that allows the NSA to collect and store telephone metadata on millions of Americans. Paul says it's an example of government overreach.
"This is a debate over your right to be left alone," Paul said on the Senate floor on Sunday.
The fight comes just as the chief sponsors of the USA Freedom Act proclaimed on Sunday that they have the votes to pass that bill, which would effectively end the bulk data collection program.
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