Bill Frist

The U.S. Senate's majority leader is suggesting Congress may delay action on President Bush's proposal to restructure the Social Security retirement program.

Speaking to reporters late Tuesday, Republican Senator Bill Frist said legislation to change the popular benefit program may be "a week, a month, several months, or a year" away.

Polls show Americans largely opposed to the Bush plan, which would allow younger workers to divert a portion of the taxes they pay for Social Security into private investment accounts.

Republican lawmakers also encountered strong opposition to the plan in a recent series of town hall meetings around the country.

The president argues that Social Security must be changed soon, before the huge "Baby Boom" generation retires and pushes the program toward insolvency.