The American people demanded a New Direction: to make America safer, to help restore the American dream, and to restore accountability and fiscal responsibility to the people's government. The 110th Congress brought new faces, new energy and a steadfast commitment to a New Direction. In January, the first woman Speaker of the House in American history gaveled open the Congress in honor of all of America's children. Passage of the Six for '06 agenda, within the first 100 hours and with broad bipartisan support, signaled change and a new focus on American priorities. Today, under Democratic leadership, the Congress is focused on a New Direction that makes American families and children, and our future generations, our highest priority. With faith in the future, we have begun to build a remarkable record of progress. MAKING AMERICA SAFER RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY
The House of Representatives is building consensus. More than two-thirds of major legislation has passed with significant support from both parties. We must strive to find common ground where we can. Where we cannot, we will stand our ground.
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MAKING AMERICA SAFER 9/11 Commission Recommendations The first order
of business for the New Direction Congress, making America safer, was
passage of H.R. 1, finally implementing the recommendations of the independent
9/11 Commission. While the Administration's own National Intelligence
Estimate conceded the war in Iraq made us less safe from terrorism, the
9/11 legislation was the long overdue, smart approach to ensuring homeland
security.
Largest Veterans' Health Care Funding Increase In History The House and Senate have passed the largest single increase in funding for veterans' health care in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration. The historic investment exceeded the President's request and adds to the $5.2 billion for veterans added by the new Congress earlier this year to strengthen health care for more than five million veterans. Our Wounded Warriors Act sets forth a series of improvements in care as well. The legislation is strongly supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, AMVETS and other groups, who have labeled the effort 'a major victory' and an 'impressive commitment' to our veterans:
Energy Security And Reducing Global Warming A major shift
in our nation's energy policy has begun. Energy Security is a strong bipartisan
effort. Our initiative makes the largest investment in homegrown biofuels
in American history, repeals billions of dollars in unnecessary taxpayer
subsidies to Big Oil earning record profits, and requires that 15
percent of our electricity come from renewable
Holding The Administration Accountable For The War In Iraq Our men and women in uniform have performed their duties with courage, patriotism, and success. But after nearly five years of war, the American people know the cost has been too high: to life and limb, to our reputation in the world, to our military readiness, and to American taxpayers. This war has not made the American people safer, our military stronger, or the region more stable. We must responsibly redeploy our troops so we can refocus on the real war on terrorism and rebuild our military readiness. This New Direction Congress has changed the debate, making the Bush Administration more accountable for the execution of the war, and the Iraqi government more responsible for its own future. We have instituted vigorous oversight, uncovering tens of billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse in spending in Iraq by companies like Blackwater and Halliburton. We believe the current policy in Iraq has failed and will only change when the President's allies in Congress hear the voices of the American people. The 110th Congress has a clear mandate from the American people to work for a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq. Congressional oversight and legislative pressure have changed the debate in Washington:
A series of measures have won passage in the House, but have been rejected by the President and his allies in Congress who help sustain vetoes. The President has rejected:
RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM Largest College Aid Expansion Since The GI Bill In 1944 The College Cost Reduction and Access Act is the single largest investment in college financial assistance since President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill in 1944 to provide education and job training for veterans returning from World War II. The historic legislation is funded, at no new cost to U.S. taxpayers, by ending excessive federal subsidies to the lending industry. College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the last five years-preventing an estimated 200,000 students from going to college each year. This legislation reverses that trend:
First Increase To The Minimum Wage In A Decade The first increase to the federal minimum wage in a decade was the first step in a broader American agenda to grow our economy and provide greater opportunity to all Americans, not just the privileged few. The ten year gap in the pay raise was the longest in the history of the law. The benefits of the pay raise will be felt by nearly 13 million American workers-5.3 million directly and another 7.2 million indirectly as a result of the new wage floor-in addition to more than 6 million children of low wage workers:
Innovation Agenda Promoting 21st Century Jobs The America COMPETES Act was signed into law as the first major step in the Innovation Agenda. America's greatest resource to compete in a global economy can be found in classrooms across the country. The COMPETES Act will address the technology gap in our workforce and help turn ideas into innovative technologies to boost our economy and create good-paying American jobs:
Aid To The Gulf Coast Recovering From Hurricanes Katrina And Rita Before the second anniversary of the nation's most devastating hurricane, the new Democratic majority in the 110th Congress sent the President recovery legislation that was signed into law. The Gulf Coast aid jumpstarts recovery efforts crippled by FEMA's failures and a lack of government support, that compounded the initial mismanaged government and private contractor response. The aid includes:
Health Care For 10 Million Children The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is a bipartisan and cost-effective way to meet the health care needs of children of families struggling to make ends meet. The President opposed a fair, bipartisan compromise to continue the program and sign up more children. In vetoing the compromise legislation, the President, and his Congressional allies who upheld his veto, opposed the will of the American people, a wide-ranging coalition of doctors and other health care providers, disease advocacy groups, children's advocates, including the March of Dimes and Easter Seals and long-time supporters of SCHIP in both parties. The health and well-being of 10 million children will be provided for by this Congress. SCHIP legislation will become law:
RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY Landmark Lobby And Ethics Reform The New Direction Congress made restoring trust in government its fundamental commitment. On its first day, the House passed a sweeping rules package-the toughest ethics reform in a generation-that broke the link between lobbyists and legislators: no gifts, no private jets, and no meals from lobbyists. With the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act now signed into law, Congress is demanding an unprecedented level of disclosure by lobbyists and lawmakers. The reforms have been hailed by independent public interest groups as "landmark," "fundamental," and "sea change for citizens":
Pay-As-You-Go Budget Discipline The 110th Congress has returned to the principle of pay-as-you-go budget discipline that produced historic budget surpluses during the Clinton Administration, but was abandoned under Republican leadership in the last six years. At the 10-month mark, the New Direction Congress has a 100% record of compliance on non-Iraq war spending: no new deficits! The non-partisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget hailed the record: "[CRFB] is pleased that Congress has adhered to the principle of PAYGO. We believe that the requirement has forced Congress to face important budgeting tradeoffs and delay actions they were unwilling to pay for, all of which helps to prevent the budget picture from deteriorating." This Congress will not pass billions of dollars of debt onto future generations. Democratic leadership has earned the mantle of fiscal responsibility with a strong record:
"In
our first year, we are taking our country in a New Direction worthy of
the sacrifice of our troops, the vision of our Founding Fathers, and the
aspirations of our children." |