There is one thing we all can agree on is that Congress and the President must work - together -- in the days and months ahead to accomplish a variety of initiatives that are critical to the state of our nation.  

There is no question the need to reform Social Security is one of the greatest challenges this decade. But Social Security faces a challenge - not a crisis. Any change we make to Social Security must be fiscally responsible, and not slash benefits. There are those who want to jeopardize Social Security by privatizing portions of Social Security, which is too risky, unaffordable, and simply not necessary. We have time to engage in an open and honest debate on this issue, and I hope the President and my colleagues in Congress will preclude from rushing to judgement on this issue, without taking into account all the relevant aspects concerning our nation's only guaranteed retirement benefit. 

Congress and the President must also work together to pursue an energy plan that will truly reduce the high-cost of gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas, while encouraging the continued research and development of alternative fuel sources. We must work together to pass a Transportation Bill that builds and repairs America 's roads and highways. And Congress and the President must quit treating our nation's budget like a credit card with no spending limit - we must work together to reduce our nation's massive debt.   

These issues will not get solved without out a cooperative Congress and a cooperative President. I am hopeful that with the election year behind us, the President and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will be more willing to come together and accomplish what we were elected to do - to address and find workable solutions to the real problems our nation faces today.