Who are our "National Leaders"

Who are our "National Leaders"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-sotloff-isis-islamic-state-behead-edit-0903-jm-20140902-story.html

""Islamic State's self-righteous cruelties have led to widespread slaughter, regional instability and realistic threats to U.S. interests and allies. U.S. military strikes have slowed the terrorist army's advance, but it's clear that a more robust response will be needed. The world waits. The president is back in Washington, but Congress is still in vacation mode. There remains a let's-take-this-day-by-day feel to the response by our nation's leadership ... and that feels uncomfortable.""

The excerpt seems to to imply congress is responsible for leadership, but misses the normal assertion that the house is responsible for the disfunction. The president it seems needs only to be present, though he increasingly seems to be not present. The most influential leader is Harry Reed, who has single handedly stopped all progress. The House really should have passed appropriation bills to support the federal government but is there any doubt Harry would fail to bring them up?