Bush pressures Congress to act on his priorities

Upon his departure for a NATO summit in Europe, President Bush on Monday sought to pressure Congress to pass several items that are high on his agenda.

{mosads}Bush said lawmakers have “a lot of work to do” following their Easter recess and rattled off a list of bills that he called “vital priorities.”

The president first pointed to the need to pass legislation that would reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Bush administration and congressional Republicans have hammered House Democrats on not passing the legislation, arguing that they are leaving the country more vulnerable to attack. The president stressed that FISA reforms must include liability protection for telecommunications companies “that may have helped save lives after September the 11th, 2001.” That provision is one of the major sources of contention for many House Democrats, who say that retroactive immunity is not warranted.

Bush also turned to the economy, stating that “Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration. Struggling homeowners are waiting on Congress to act so that the FHA can help more Americans refinance their mortgages and stay in their homes.”

Lastly, Bush also called on lawmakers to help Colombia, which he called a “courageous ally in South America,” by approving a free trade agreement with the country.