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The Capitol Hill impasse over federal surveillance powers continued Monday, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) refused to yield to pressure from the White House and fellow Republicans to step aside and allow the reinstatement of key USA Patriot Act provisions that expired early Monday morning.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) again showed agitation with Paul when he came to the Senate floor Monday afternoon to make a request, requiring unanimous consent, to move up a set of votes scheduled for Tuesday.

Everyone has had ample opportunity to say their piece at this point, said McConnell, who has endorsed Paul for president. Now is the time for action.

[Sun sets on some NSA surveillance powers as Rand Paul foils extension]

But Paul, as he has done on several occasions in recent weeks, objected: I think the bill could be made much better with amendments, and if we could come to an arrangement to allow amendments to be voted on, I would be happy to allow my consent.

On the night the Patriot Act expired, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) equated the collecting of Americans' phone records to "what we fought the revolution over." (Senator Rand Paul/YouTube)

That puts the Senate on a path to pass surveillance legislation known as the USA Freedom Act as soon as Tuesday, although pitfalls remain. McConnell has set up votes on three amendments, the passage of any of which would send the bill back to the House, where its fate would be uncertain.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday reiterated his preference to have the Senate pass the already-approved House bill, without any amendments, so that it can be sent to President Obamas desk quickly. I still think the best advice for them is to pass our bill, he told reporters.

McCarthy declined several opportunities to say whether he would accept any changes by the Senate, which would require the House to reconsider the anti-terrorism legislation. The best option for the protection of this country is to pass our bill, he said.

McConnells amendments would tweak the USA Freedom Act, which was the product of months of intense negotiations between lawmakers, intelligence officials, civil libertarians and telecommunications companies.

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Frustration mounts as Rand Paul refuses to accelerate ...