As Members of Congress return to Washington this week, marching toward the end of the first session of the 108th Congress, we face several precarious issues where expectations have been raised to such a high level that success will be very hard to achieve.  At home and abroad we face challenges in national security, health security and economic security for the troops in the field and the civilians here at home working to preserve our way of life.

The most serious dilemma is, of course, Iraq where the struggle continues daily and our brave men and women in uniform still work in a very dangerous climate with complex problems.  Currently, we do not have enough support from the rest of the world to move towards an "exit strategy" for our troops.  When in battle, our military is so superior that the American people expect the same rate of success in peace-keeping missions, even though keeping the peace often proves to be more difficult than winning the war.

No matter how you felt about the United Nations in the past, this is the time when the world needs the U.N. to flood the Middle East with troops and support. The U.N has certainly lost credibility recently, but perhaps the rebuilding of Iraq will allow it to redeem itself and give itself legitimacy in today's world.  The United States admirably won the "shooting war" in Iraq with the help of a small "coalition of the willing" but we now need a new, larger coalition to stabilize Iraq and promote long term peace in the region.

On the domestic front, the much publicized prescription drug benefit for seniors in looking more and more like a "Rose Garden" story.  However, based on the studies that are now available, the outcome will be FAR from "rosy" for many of our senior citizens. 

Earlier this year, after much consideration I voted for two different alternatives - a conservative Democrat plan and the Republican Leadership plan in hopes of finding a compromise.  However, I worry that many middle-income seniors will face the reality that what we created is neither as good as what they already have nor is it as beneficial as they need.  

Quite simply, their expectations will not be met under the current legislative proposals. This dilemma begs the question, "Why would we pass the largest entitlement increase in a generation if the people who need it are not likely to be pleased?"   Because of this reason, I am likely to vote "no" on a prescription drug benefit with the hope that we would quickly move to simplify the current plan and to provide a guaranteed benefit to lower income seniors, who need it the most, without creating a complex new insurance plan for prescription drugs.

Finally, people expect affordable, reliable energy and they are in no mood for excuses why gasoline prices are higher or why the electricity grid collapsed on 50 million people in the most powerful and productive country in the world. Without dependable electricity, our thriving economy will come to a screeching halt. 

The energy bills that have passed both bodies of Congress must be reconciled quickly and sent to the President.  Furthermore, the manufacturing sector of our country is still struggling.  The economy has begun to turn around but Congress must quickly pass a final energy bill and send a new five-year "highway bill" to President Bush because the current authorization expires at the end of this month and the economy needs this extra stimulus.

The American people deserve responsible solutions to these major problems and time is of the essence.  The Congress is back in session and working hard.