Congressional
Democrats believe America should work for everyone - not just those at the
top - by building opportunity and prosperity for all, and guaranteeing
real security at home and around the world. We know that Americans can
work together to meet the serious challenges facing our country, create a
stronger nation, and build a safer world.
With
a firm commitment to honest leadership and tough budget discipline to end
record deficit spending, we propose a legislative agenda - A New Direction
- that unites rather than divides our country. Beginning with our goal of
an America that strives for the common good, these are our legislative
priorities in the 109th Congress for a New Direction.
ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE - LOWER GAS PRICES
Free America from dependence on foreign oil and create a cleaner
environment with initiatives for energy-efficient technologies and
domestic alternatives such as biofuels. End tax giveaways to Big Oil
companies and enact tough laws to stop price gouging. Fact
Sheet
REAL
SECURITY AT HOME AND OVERSEAS
Reclaim American leadership with a tough, smart plan to transform failed
Bush Administration policies in Iraq, the Middle East and around the
world. Require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country and
begin the phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq in 2006. Double the
size of Special Forces to destroy Osama Bin Laden and terrorist networks
like al Qaeda. Rebuild a state-of-the-art military capable of projecting
power wherever necessary. Implement the bipartisan 9/11 Commission
proposal to secure America's borders and ports and screen 100% of
containers. Fully man, train, and equip our National Guard and our police,
firefighters and other first responders. Honor our commitments to our
veterans. Fact Sheet
BETTER
AMERICAN JOBS - BETTER PAY
Prohibit the Congressional pay raise until the nation's minimum wage is
raised. End tax giveaways that reward companies for moving American jobs
overseas. Fact Sheet
COLLEGE ACCESS FOR ALL
Make college tuition deductible from taxes, permanently. Cut student loan
interest rates. Expand Pell Grants. Fact Sheet
AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE - LIFE-SAVING SCIENCE
Fix the Medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by
negotiating lower drug prices and ending wasteful giveaways to drug
companies and HMOs. Promote stem cell research that offers real hope to
millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases. Fact
Sheet
RETIREMENT
SECURITY AND DIGNITY
Stop any plan to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part. Enact
real pension reform to protect employees' financial security from CEO
corruption and mismanagement, including abuse of the bankruptcy laws.
Expand personal savings incentives. Fact
Sheet
THE
WRONG DIRECTION
The
policies of the Bush Administration and the Congressional majority have
taken the country in the wrong direction, making us less secure and
putting the privileged few ahead of the common good.
RISING
ENERGY PRICES
Gas over $3 per gallon; growing dependence on foreign oil; billions in new
subsidies for oil and gas companies despite record profits; blocked
efforts against price gouging; opposed energy efficient technology and
alternative fuels.
WEAKENED
SECURITY
Failed to capture Osama Bin Laden or destroy al Qaeda; rushed to war in
Iraq on manipulated intelligence with no realistic plan to win the peace;
failed to provide strategy to stabilize Iraq or begin the responsible
redeployment of our troops; strained the U.S. military; wasted billions on
no-bid Halliburton and KBR contracts; failed to protect our borders,
ports, transportation systems, and chemical plants; received failing
homeland security grades from the nonpartisan 9/11 Commission; cut
veterans' health care.
RISING ECONOMIC INSECURITY
No minimum wage increase for 6.6 million Americans since 1997; real family
income down since 2001 as CEO compensation soared; support for subsidies
for outsourcing American jobs; $5.6 trillion budget surplus turned into
$3.2 trillion deficit; national debt doubled to $12 trillion by 2011.
RISING COLLEGE COSTS
$12 billion cut from college student aid; cost of loans increased; college
Pell Grants frozen as tuition soars - 57% at public universities and 32%
at private schools since 2000.
RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS
Family health insurance costs up 70% ($4,500 per family) since 2000; 6
million more uninsured; confusing Rx drug benefit prohibits negotiating
lower drug prices; stem cell research obstructed.
RISING RETIREMENT INSECURITY
Promoting substantial privatization of Social Security and benefit cuts
for millions of retirees; employee pensions collapse while CEOs get golden
parachutes.
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