Children are out of school this week in many parts of the country, having earned the break from the rigors of learning.

Meanwhile, parents and other adults remain on the job, hard at work being productive for their families and our country.

Unfortunately, neither is the case with the incumbent Congress whose leadership repeatedly demonstrates they have not learned anything to change their behaviors.

Congressional leaders avoid the rigor of long daily sessions, produce little results of value for our country, and — to cap a poor record of legislative performance — this week have gone AWOL.

The list is long but a look at one piece of legislation, long overdue for permanent passage, is indicative of an attitude in both parties that puts partisan politics and personal power before what is necessary and essential for the personal safety and physical security of our country and all of our citizens.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, needs to be made permanent before the temporary legislation, titled the Protect America Act, which was passed by the congress last August, expires at midnight on Saturday.

The problem in this specific situation is the majority leadership in the U.S. House.

The U.S. Senate, often the slower to act, wisely approved the Senate bill, by a wide, bi-partisan margin more than a week ago.

But over in the U.S. House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her inner circle of high-tension colleagues play high-stakes politics at every turn and cannot see, or simply refuse to see, reality.

In announcing her refusal to bring the legislation to the House floor (many believe the bill would gain sufficient votes of both Democrats and Republicans), Pelosi said, “We are committed to protecting the American people and protecting the Constitution; (and) We will continue to work with the Senate to produce a bill that does both.”

Here’s a news flash for Nancy Pelosi: “Madam Speaker, the Senate has already approved the FISA legislation.”

So, what’s really going on?

All sides are working the body politic with this. That is both sides of the aisle in the House and in the Senate; and both sides of the street between the legislative and executive branches.

The president said early last week, “At this moment, somewhere in the world, terrorists are planning new attacks on our country. Their goal is to bring destruction to our shores that will make Sept. 11 pale by comparison.”

And last Friday, President Bush reiterated, “By blocking this piece of legislation, our country is more in danger of an attack”.

Here are some facts:

The executive branch can still use the existing temporary legislation, the Protect America Act, to execute wiretaps and electronic surveillance deemed needed.

The House has had more than six months to complete their version of the legislation. But Speaker Pelosi and her inner circle either dropped the ball or failed to take prompt and effective action for their reasons.

If the House or Senate leadership avoid their responsibilities, the recess they declared for themselves through next week may be made permanent in November. Ironically, all they need to do is their job.

What members on all sides of the aisle and in branches of the federal government must do now is: Get back to Washington now, not the middle of next week. Get back and work hard, show vigor with daily overtime; demonstrate commitment to do the right thing; and produce effective results that will meet constitutional guarantees while protecting both the physical security of the United States, the personal safety of Americans and the rights of American citizens.

My prescription for all members of Congress to ensure a better their understanding of “do the right thing,” especially legislative leadership, is to consume these three pills:

• First, read, memorize, recite and keep on your person the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

• Second, watch the full day of videotape of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — without talking to other colleagues; and,

• Third, read, memorize, recite and never forget Emerson’s notable quote, “The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.”