has sought to head off some of the committee-jurisdiction skirmishes by designating the Governmental Affairs panel as the lead committee for producing legislation.
The European Parliament's lead committee considering the legislation, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, is to vote on the bill in late May but may be forced to postpone action.
Privacy concerns among Republicans in the House have led committee leadership there to join forces with the White House and many Democrats to back the USA Freedom Act.
New York has been among the most vocal in its critiques of such a deal, and New York's attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, was kicked off the lead committee of officials negotiating the deal.
A record nine women now lead committees, including some of the most powerful ones.
The stipends, averaging about $10,000, are paid to 46 of 51 members who lead committees or take other leadership positions.
Veterans who lead committees and subcommittees, if blamed for the demise of Mr. Obama's top domestic priority, could find those positions in jeopardy.
Mr. Lieberman and two of the Democrats, Senators Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, all lead committees, namely Homeland Security, Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources, respectively.
This camp includes prominent lawmakers who lead committees with jurisdiction over Fannie and Freddie, including Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, and Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts.
