|
When the 109th Congress was sworn into office on January 4, 2005, it accepted the bold challenge of reforming and strengthening the important federal programs on which America and the world rely. The real mandate of the 2004 elections is that people expect Congress and the Bush Administration to work diligently in pursuing bipartisan policies which will benefit all Americans.
Strengthening Social Security will be one of the 109th Congress’ greatest challenges. While critics argue about the urgency of making any changes to one of the most successful federal programs in history, most agree that the Social Security program faces long-term solvency problems that need to be addressed before it is too late. Several competing proposals have been advanced for ensuring that Social Security remains strong and viable for generations to come, and these will have to be judiciously evaluated before any major changes are enacted. While trying to remain open-minded and objective, I fully intend to remain committed to protecting the benefits earned by current and future retirees.
Enacting common-sense budgetary measures and pursuing fiscal responsibility are critical for addressing the growing federal deficit. It is always a difficult challenge to carefully balance government spending, tax relief, and deficit reduction priorities, but the 109th Congress cannot allow these issues to go unaddressed. Securing America’s fiscal health and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is one of Congress’ most important jobs.
Foreign policy will continue to be a primary focus of the 109th Congress. Early this year, President Bush will ask Congress to provide relief to victims of the tsunami which devastated Asia during the holidays. He also will request additional funding for ongoing activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, where American troops bravely continue to stabilize and rebuild the region. With the election of a new Palestinian leader to replace the late Yasser Arafat, Congress’ attention will turn once again to the Middle East peace progress. It also is critical for Congress to evaluate the nuclear threat posed by Iran and Korea.
The 109th Congress also will focus on a wide range of domestic initiatives designed to improve the lives of Americans. Congress plans to strengthen education programs such as Head Start and the Higher Education Act. Americans also expect Congress to enact a national energy policy which carefully balances initiatives that achieve less dependence on foreign oil with strong environmental protections. In addition, attention will be focused on reforming the legal system and medical malpractice laws, providing health insurance to America’s 45 million uninsured, and overseeing the implementation of the new Medicare law.
Congress has pledged to pursue a bold agenda in 2005, and the coming months will determine whether or not we are successful in our efforts. I am committed to working with my colleagues to pursue bipartisan support for policies which benefit all Americans. As always, the comments and opinions of my constituents will be critical in helping me achieve this goal.
|
