    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [December 21, 2005]
    [Pages 1893-1894]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Departure for the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda,
    Maryland
    December 21, 2005

    Legislative Agenda

        Thank you all. The Senate is debating two very important measures,
    and I urge the United States Senate to pass the defense appropriations
    bill. It is an important piece of legislation that provides necessary
    funding for our troops who are fighting in Afghanistan and in Iraq and
    who are serving our country around the world. It's an obligation of
    every Member of the United States Senate to provide necessary funding
    for our troops on the frontlines so that we can fight and win the war on
    terror.
        And the second important piece of legislation is the PATRIOT Act. In
    order to protect America, the United States Senate must reauthorize the
    PATRIOT Act. The terrorists still want to hit us again. There is an
    enemy that lurks, a dangerous group of people that want to do harm to
    the American people, and we must have the tools necessary to protect the
    American people. The PATRIOT Act passed overwhelmingly shortly after the
    September the 11th attack. It has been an effective tool; it has worked.
        And the same as we protected the American people using the PATRIOT
    Act, we've also protected their civil liberties. There is extensive
    oversight on this very important program. The PATRIOT Act tore down the
    wall between law enforcement and intelligence communities, which makes
    it easier to connect the dots before an attack. The PATRIOT Act also
    gave law enforcement tools to investigate terrorism that they have
    already got to investigate other types of crimes.

        The PATRIOT Act is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. The
    terrorist threat is not going to expire at the end of this year. The
    House has voted to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act, and they left town,
    because they thought their--because their business is finished. The
    Senate is still debating this issue. A majority of the United States
    Senate supports reauthorization; a minority of Senators is filibustering
    and preventing the Senate from voting to renew the PATRIOT Act. The
    Senate Democratic leader recently boasted about
    killing the

    [[Page 1894]]

    PATRIOT Act. This obstruction is inexcusable. The Senators obstructing
    the PATRIOT Act need to understand that the expiration of this vital law
    will endanger America and will leave us in a weaker position in the
    fight against brutal killers. It's important that the Senate act quickly
    on these two bills.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:11 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.