Keeping Promises, Making Progress

Statement

KEEPING PROMISES, MAKING PROGRESS

Anyone who says that elections do not matter has not been paying attention recently. It's been just seven months since the new majority got to work in Congress, and already we have seen major progress.

Congress has passed the first increase in the minimum wage in a decade, and channeled significant new resources to priorities including education, medical research, children's health insurance, and veterans' health care. In addition, for the first time since President Bush took office, Congress is providing vigorous oversight of the executive branch on issues ranging from the conduct of the war in Iraq to the mass firing of U.S. attorneys.

Last month the Senate passed a landmark energy bill that takes major strides toward energy independence. The bill mandates a dramatic increase in the use of renewable, home-grown fuels such as ethanol. In addition, the bill requires car manufacturers to increase the average mileage of new cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 (compared to roughly 25 miles per gallon today). This is the first increase in fuel economy standards in more than two decades.

The Senate has also passed legislation implementing the homeland security recommendations of the blue-ribbon 9/11 Commission. It passed a bill setting tough new ethics rules governing lobbyists and former Senators and staff. And it passed a budget resolution that provides for permanent extension of the marriage penalty tax relief, the $1,000 child tax credit, and the dependent care tax credit.

In addition, Congress passed a bill lifting the President's arbitrary restrictions on stem cell research and legislation setting a timetable for beginning the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. Unfortunately, both measures were vetoed by President Bush this spring. But those vetoes will not be the final word by any means.

The stem cell bill, which I sponsored in the Senate, passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. Despite the President's veto, the momentum behind this legislation continues to build. I am determined to find a way - this year - to lift the President's restrictions on this life-saving research.

Likewise, Democrats in Congress will find other legislative vehicles for beginning a responsible drawdown of U.S. troops from what has become a civil war in Iraq. We anticipate growing support from our Republican colleagues in the coming months.

The achievements of the new Congress are all the more remarkable when you consider that, in the Senate, the Democrats have a razor-thin majority of 51 to 49. What's more, in the Senate, it takes 60 votes to shut off debate and bring a bill to a vote. This gives the Republican minority considerable power to delay, filibuster, and obstruct. Nonetheless, Democrats have repeatedly succeeded in reaching across the aisle and building strong bipartisan majorities - as we did in passing the stem cell bill.
So, clearly, the new majority in Congress is off to a strong start and is charting a new direction for our country, both at home and overseas. This is what we promised to the American people in the run-up to the election. And we intend to keep that promise.

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