Despite widespread support, a bill that would put limits on widespread surveillance is unlikely to get a vote before the elections—or even after them.

According to National Journal, the USA Freedom Act, which would essentially stop the government's bulk collection of telephone call data, is flailing. The bill is struggling despite the fact that it won a stunning new supporter last week: Director of Intelligence James Clapper, one of the top defenders of the surveillance programs.

A Senate staffer told NJ that it was "extremely unlikely" the bill would be considered in September. It was originally introduced in July by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and it has co-sponsors ranging from liberal senators like Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) to Tea Party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

But multiple sources told National Journal that the measure "is not a top priority" for a Senate packed with other concerns. The failure to pass the USA Freedom Act, which still had plenty of problems , will top off a Congress in which virtually no progress was made on any significant tech policy issue.

The compromise bill was fleshed out in the Senate after a weaker version in the House was denounced by reform-minded groups. However, groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology are on board with the Leahy bill, which they see as an imperfect but necessary compromise.

The USA Freedom Act would leave the call data in the hands of the phone companies, creating a system in which intelligence agencies would have to ask for data related to a "specific selection term" such as a phone number or name.

It wasn't a compromise embraced by all. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who emerged as a stalwart defender of the surveillance program, hasn't supported it. Nor was it embraced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mark Udall (D-CO), two politicians who have been calling for surveillance reform since before the Snowden leaks.

Lack of support by Wyden and Udall may "stem from a conviction that they can get a better deal next Congress," posits National Journal. In part, that's because Section 215 of the Patriot Act, the legal basis for the phone data collection, will expire in June of 2015.

Industry groups haven't given up on passage. Just hours after the gridlock was reported, Business Software Alliance president Victoria Espinel sent out a note asking the Senate to move quickly to pass the bill.

"Time may be short in the 113th Congress, but there is broad support and significant momentum for FISA reform," she said.