He says the American public should be less worried about privacy and should back increased collection as a means of foiling terrorist attacks.

Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said Wednesday that "it's beyond belief how little data is a part of the program."

House leaders have reached a bipartisan compromise on a bill that seeks to codify President Barack Obama's proposal to end the NSA's collection of domestic calling records, but it would allow the agency to request certain phone records under a court order.

Senate leaders have introduced a bill that would allow the NSA to continue collecting phone records.