Bush Urges House To Extend Patriot Act

Before starting a long holiday weekend, President Bush encouraged the House to pass a six-month extension of the USA Patriot Act. "It appears to me that the Congress understands we got to keep the Patriot Act in place, that we're still under threat," Bush said yesterday.

The Senate passed the extension Wednesday night, and House approval is required by Dec. 31 to keep in place the enhanced law enforcement powers enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Before boarding Marine One to head to Camp David for Christmas, Bush hailed political progress in Iraq and Afghanistan and positive news about the economy. He also lamented that U.S. troops stationed abroad would not be with their families for the holidays.

"We stand with you and we pray with you for the safety of your loved one," he said. "We want to send our greetings to your loved one overseas and tell them how much we appreciate you serving for the cause of freedom and peace."

Joining the president and his wife, Laura, at the wooded Camp David compound in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains are Bush's parents, former president George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara; Mrs. Bush's mother, Jenna Welch; and the first couple's twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna.

On Christmas Eve, the Bushes are scheduled to attend a candlelight service at the Camp David chapel alongside military families stationed there, said Susan Whitson, a spokeswoman for the first lady. Children from those families are staging an annual Christmas pageant that the Bush family plans to attend, she said. A traditional dinner, prepared in the Navy mess at Camp David, is planned for Christmas Day.

On Monday, the president will fly to Texas to spend a week at his ranch in Crawford. He is to return to Washington on New Year's Day.

It has been Bush's custom to spend Christmas at Camp David, sparing the White House residence staff from working on the holiday. Departing for Texas the day after Christmas also means aides who travel with the president can spend the holiday with their families.