A NEW DIRECTION To Make America Safer To Restore the American Dream To Restore Accountability.

A NEW DIRECTIONA NEW DIRECTION

To Make America SaferTo Make America Safer

To Restore the American DreamTo Restore the American Dream

To Restore AccountabilityTo Restore Accountability

Under Democratic leadership, the Congress Under Democratic leadership, the Congress is focused on a New Direction that makes is focused on a New Direction that makes American families and children, and American families and children, and future generations, our highest priority.future generations, our highest priority.

With faith in the future, With faith in the future, we have begun to we have begun to build a remarkable record of progress.build a remarkable record of progress.

MAKING AMERICA SAFERMAKING AMERICA SAFER

9/11 Commission Recommendations to 9/11 Commission Recommendations to Protect America from TerrorismProtect America from Terrorism

Largest Veterans’ Health Care Funding Largest Veterans’ Health Care Funding Increase in HistoryIncrease in History

Energy Security and Reducing Global Energy Security and Reducing Global WarmingWarming

Holding the Administration Accountable for Holding the Administration Accountable for the War in Iraqthe War in Iraq

MAKING AMERICA SAFERMAKING AMERICA SAFER

9/11 Commission Recommendations9/11 Commission Recommendations

requiring 100% screening of air cargo;requiring 100% screening of air cargo; requiring 100% screening of cargo containers before they reach U.S. requiring 100% screening of cargo containers before they reach U.S.

soil;soil; basing anti-terrorism funding to cities and states on risk, not basing anti-terrorism funding to cities and states on risk, not

political boundaries;political boundaries; improving emergency communications among first responders;improving emergency communications among first responders; strengthening information sharing with local law enforcement to strengthening information sharing with local law enforcement to

help prevent potential terrorist attacks; andhelp prevent potential terrorist attacks; and taking aggressive steps to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons taking aggressive steps to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons

of mass destruction.of mass destruction.

MAKING AMERICA SAFERMAKING AMERICA SAFER

Largest Veterans' Health Care Funding Increase In Largest Veterans' Health Care Funding Increase In HistoryHistory

making critical investments for our wounded troops coming home making critical investments for our wounded troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, improving conditions such as those from Iraq and Afghanistan, improving conditions such as those uncovered at Walter Reed and in other Congressional oversight;uncovered at Walter Reed and in other Congressional oversight;

focusing on those veterans returning with Post-Traumatic Stress focusing on those veterans returning with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury; Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury;

reducing the huge backlog of veterans' claims for benefits;reducing the huge backlog of veterans' claims for benefits; providing needed maintenance of VA health care facilities; andproviding needed maintenance of VA health care facilities; and preventing the President's proposed fee increases from hitting preventing the President's proposed fee increases from hitting

veterans.veterans.

MAKING AMERICA SAFERMAKING AMERICA SAFER

Energy Security And Reducing Global WarmingEnergy Security And Reducing Global Warming

reducing the dependence on foreign oil that threatens our national reducing the dependence on foreign oil that threatens our national security; security;

creating new jobs that are home-grown and American-owned, creating new jobs that are home-grown and American-owned, fueled by American farms and American innovation, including a fueled by American farms and American innovation, including a Green Jobs initiative training a workforce in new energy Green Jobs initiative training a workforce in new energy technologies;technologies;

lowering energy costs for consumers by more than $300 billion lowering energy costs for consumers by more than $300 billion through 2030, with landmark efficiency reforms for homes, through 2030, with landmark efficiency reforms for homes, appliances, and industry;appliances, and industry;

reducing dangerous heat-trapping gases by an estimated 40 percent reducing dangerous heat-trapping gases by an estimated 40 percent of what is needed by 2030 to save the planet; and making the U.S. a of what is needed by 2030 to save the planet; and making the U.S. a leader on a binding global warming agreement with all emitters.leader on a binding global warming agreement with all emitters.

MAKING AMERICA SAFERMAKING AMERICA SAFER

Holding The Administration Accountable For The War In Holding The Administration Accountable For The War In IraqIraq

requiring reporting from the Administration on the conduct of the war requiring reporting from the Administration on the conduct of the war in Iraq, both militarily and in establishing a stable Iraqi government;in Iraq, both militarily and in establishing a stable Iraqi government;

supporting troops and military families with new funding for Mine-supporting troops and military families with new funding for Mine-Resistant Armor Protected vehicles (MRAP) and health care for Resistant Armor Protected vehicles (MRAP) and health care for returning veteransreturning veterans

banning permanent American military bases in Iraq; andbanning permanent American military bases in Iraq; and meeting equipment shortfall needs of the Army National Guard.meeting equipment shortfall needs of the Army National Guard. setting a responsible timeline for phased redeployment of American setting a responsible timeline for phased redeployment of American

troops;troops; enhancing national security and military readiness—as well as quality enhancing national security and military readiness—as well as quality

of life for military families—by requiring regular rotations out of of life for military families—by requiring regular rotations out of combat zones and back home for rest and training.combat zones and back home for rest and training.

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAM

Largest College Aid Expansion Since the GI Bill in Largest College Aid Expansion Since the GI Bill in 19441944

First Increase in the Minimum Wage in a DecadeFirst Increase in the Minimum Wage in a Decade

Innovation Agenda Promoting 21Innovation Agenda Promoting 21stst Century Jobs in Century Jobs in a Global Economya Global Economy

Aid to the Gulf Coast Recovering from Hurricanes Aid to the Gulf Coast Recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and RitaKatrina and Rita

Health Care for 10 Million ChildrenHealth Care for 10 Million Children

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAMLargest College Aid Expansion Since The GI BillLargest College Aid Expansion Since The GI Bill

cutting student loan interest rates in half, saving the typical student cutting student loan interest rates in half, saving the typical student borrower $4,400 over the life of the loan;borrower $4,400 over the life of the loan;

increasing Pell Grant amounts by $1,090 over five years;increasing Pell Grant amounts by $1,090 over five years; forgiving loans for graduates who provide 10 years of public forgiving loans for graduates who provide 10 years of public

service, such as public school teachers or first responders;service, such as public school teachers or first responders; guaranteeing that borrowers will never have to spend more than 15 guaranteeing that borrowers will never have to spend more than 15

percent of their yearly discretionary income on loan repayments, percent of their yearly discretionary income on loan repayments, and allowing those in economic hardship to have their loans and allowing those in economic hardship to have their loans forgiven after 25 years; andforgiven after 25 years; and

making landmark investments in Historically Black Colleges and making landmark investments in Historically Black Colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions.serving institutions.

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAMFirst Increase to the Minimum Wage in a DecadeFirst Increase to the Minimum Wage in a Decade

The benefits of the pay raise will be felt by nearly 13 million The benefits of the pay raise will be felt by nearly 13 million American workers—5.3 million directly and another 7.2 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 indirectly as a result of the new wage floor—in addition to more than 6 million children of low wage workers:than 6 million children of low wage workers:

increasing annual pay by $4,400 a year by 2009, with an increase in increasing annual pay by $4,400 a year by 2009, with an increase in the minimum wage of $2.10 phased in over three years; andthe minimum wage of $2.10 phased in over three years; and

raising the minimum wage in 20 states this past July, where state raising the minimum wage in 20 states this past July, where state wages are not already higher.wages are not already higher.

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAMInnovation Agenda Promoting 21st Century JobsInnovation Agenda Promoting 21st Century Jobs

dramatically expanding the number of highly qualified math, dramatically expanding the number of highly qualified math, science, engineering, and technology teachers across the country;science, engineering, and technology teachers across the country;

putting us on a path to doubling funding for basic research and putting us on a path to doubling funding for basic research and development at the National Science Foundation, National Institute development at the National Science Foundation, National Institute for Science and Technology, and Department of Energy;for Science and Technology, and Department of Energy;

maintaining the American edge in high-performance computing;maintaining the American edge in high-performance computing; boosting energy research and innovation, creating a new Advanced boosting energy research and innovation, creating a new Advanced

Research Projects Agency for Energy; andResearch Projects Agency for Energy; and making small businesses even bigger players in the tech sector, making small businesses even bigger players in the tech sector,

supporting new manufacturing processes and techniques, and high-supporting new manufacturing processes and techniques, and high-risk, high-reward technology development.risk, high-reward technology development.

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAMAid To The Gulf Coast Recovering From Hurricanes Aid To The Gulf Coast Recovering From Hurricanes

Katrina And RitaKatrina And Rita waiving the local matching requirement under the Stafford Act that waiving the local matching requirement under the Stafford Act that

governs disaster assistance, saving the region $1.9 billion and governs disaster assistance, saving the region $1.9 billion and allowing work to begin on an estimated 20,000 stalled projects;allowing work to begin on an estimated 20,000 stalled projects;

providing $6.4 billion in direct assistance to help bolster levees, providing $6.4 billion in direct assistance to help bolster levees, restore the coastline, recruit teachers, keep schools open, maintain restore the coastline, recruit teachers, keep schools open, maintain health facilities, assist farmers and fishermen, provide housing health facilities, assist farmers and fishermen, provide housing assistance, assist small businesses, and retain law enforcement and assistance, assist small businesses, and retain law enforcement and other essential workers; andother essential workers; and

exercising much-needed Congressional oversight: House exercising much-needed Congressional oversight: House Committees have held over 30 hearings on Katrina recovery, Committees have held over 30 hearings on Katrina recovery, including revealing billions of taxpayer dollars lost to contractor including revealing billions of taxpayer dollars lost to contractor waste, fraud, and abuse.waste, fraud, and abuse.

RESTORINGRESTORINGTHE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAMHealth Care For 10 Million ChildrenHealth Care For 10 Million Children

protecting coverage for the more than 6 million children protecting coverage for the more than 6 million children already enrolled, and enrolling 4 million more children already enrolled, and enrolling 4 million more children who are already eligible but lack health coverage now;who are already eligible but lack health coverage now;

helping families of 10 million children avoid bankruptcy helping families of 10 million children avoid bankruptcy and foreclosure on their homes under the crushing and foreclosure on their homes under the crushing weight of medical catastrophes; andweight of medical catastrophes; and

saving taxpayer dollars that are spent now providing the saving taxpayer dollars that are spent now providing the most expensive care possible to uninsured children, in most expensive care possible to uninsured children, in hospital emergency rooms.hospital emergency rooms.

RESTORING RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY

Landmark Lobby and Ethics ReformLandmark Lobby and Ethics Reform

Pay-As-You-Go Budget Discipline; No New Pay-As-You-Go Budget Discipline; No New Deficit SpendingDeficit Spending

RESTORING RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYLandmark Lobby And Ethics ReformLandmark Lobby And Ethics Reform

mandating new transparency for lobbyists bundling donations and mandating new transparency for lobbyists bundling donations and political campaign fund activity;political campaign fund activity;

ending the 'K-Street Project' by prohibiting Members of Congress ending the 'K-Street Project' by prohibiting Members of Congress and their staff from attempting to influence employment decisions in and their staff from attempting to influence employment decisions in exchange for political access;exchange for political access;

enacting a strong lobbyist gift ban, limits on privately-funded travel, enacting a strong lobbyist gift ban, limits on privately-funded travel, and a ban on House Members accepting trips on private planes;and a ban on House Members accepting trips on private planes;

expanding public disclosure by requiring lobbyists to file twice as expanding public disclosure by requiring lobbyists to file twice as oft en each year, and for the first time to file electronically in a oft en each year, and for the first time to file electronically in a public, searchable database; andpublic, searchable database; and

denying Congressional retirement benefits to Members convicted of denying Congressional retirement benefits to Members convicted of bribery, perjury and other similar crimes.bribery, perjury and other similar crimes.

RESTORING RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYPay-As-You-Go Budget DisciplinePay-As-You-Go Budget Discipline

allowing no new deficit spending;allowing no new deficit spending; balancing the budget by 2012-which the President's budget does not;balancing the budget by 2012-which the President's budget does not; passing legislation in the House to save U.S. taxpayers billions by passing legislation in the House to save U.S. taxpayers billions by

cleaning up government contracting abuses, including getting rid of cleaning up government contracting abuses, including getting rid of no-bid contracts;no-bid contracts;

instituting unprecedented disclosure of which Members are instituting unprecedented disclosure of which Members are requesting earmarked projects and who is benefiting, and requesting earmarked projects and who is benefiting, and dramatically cutting the number of earmarks; anddramatically cutting the number of earmarks; and

uncovering billions of misspent taxpayer dollars in Iraq and the Gulf uncovering billions of misspent taxpayer dollars in Iraq and the Gulf Coast region.Coast region.

WHAT OTHERS ARE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYINGSAYING

Thomas Kean, Co-Chairman of the 9/11 Thomas Kean, Co-Chairman of the 9/11 CommissionCommission and former Republican governor of and former Republican governor of New Jersey, calls the 9/11 legislation “New Jersey, calls the 9/11 legislation “a very big a very big step forward. It will make our nation saferstep forward. It will make our nation safer.”.”

WHAT OTHERS ARE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYINGSAYING

The American Legion The American Legion called our historic veterans’ called our historic veterans’ funding increasefunding increase ““an impressive commitmentan impressive commitment to to this nation’s service members, veterans, and this nation’s service members, veterans, and their families.”their families.”

The The Disabled American Veterans Disabled American Veterans called it called it ““keeping faith with America’s veteranskeeping faith with America’s veterans.” .”

WHAT OTHERS ARE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYINGSAYINGSecretary of Defense Robert GatesSecretary of Defense Robert Gates says of Iraq says of Iraq

oversight: oversight: “I have long been and continue to be “I have long been and continue to be an advocate of congressional oversight as a an advocate of congressional oversight as a fundamental element of our system of fundamental element of our system of government.  I also have publicly expressed my government.  I also have publicly expressed my belief that belief that congressional debate on Iraq has been congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive, appropriate and necessaryconstructive, appropriate and necessary.”.”

WHAT OTHERS ARE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYINGSAYINGFred Wertheimer of Democracy 21Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 says “The lobbying says “The lobbying

and ethics reform legislation … represents and ethics reform legislation … represents sweeping, sweeping, fundamental reformfundamental reform in response to the corruption in response to the corruption scandals that plagued the last Congress. The lobbying scandals that plagued the last Congress. The lobbying disclosure reforms will provide disclosure reforms will provide a sea change for a sea change for citizens…citizens…””

Mary G. Wilson of the League of Women VotersMary G. Wilson of the League of Women Voters says says ““This legislation is remarkably goodThis legislation is remarkably good considering the considering the challenges it has faced. For the first time, Congress is challenges it has faced. For the first time, Congress is requiring disclosure of big-dollar bundling by lobbyistsrequiring disclosure of big-dollar bundling by lobbyists——a key element for truly reforming the way business is a key element for truly reforming the way business is done in Washington.done in Washington.””

WHAT OTHERS ARE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYINGSAYINGDavid Broder wrote in the Washington Post on fiscal

responsibility: “Instead of promising more unaffordable tax cuts that go mainly to the richest Americans, as their Republican counterparts have done for the past six years, key Democrats are imposing some real spending discipline on themselves.”

The Concord Coalition, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Committee for Economic Development write: “In urging adherence to PAYGO … we note that Congress has been very careful to comply with the rule so far this year.”

GOP: THE GRAND GOP: THE GRAND OBSTRUCTION PARTYOBSTRUCTION PARTY

More progress could be made on critical American More progress could be made on critical American challenges if Bush Republicans were not recklessly challenges if Bush Republicans were not recklessly stalling our agenda:stalling our agenda:

4 million more children still don’t have health care4 million more children still don’t have health careo 876 troops have been killed since Republicans’ first 876 troops have been killed since Republicans’ first

filibuster on changing course in Iraqfilibuster on changing course in Iraqo roads and highways are deterioratingroads and highways are deterioratingo Americans are paying more at the gas pumpAmericans are paying more at the gas pumpo 1,400 new police officers are being kept off the street 1,400 new police officers are being kept off the street

as crime risesas crime rises

GOP: THE GRAND GOP: THE GRAND OBSTRUCTION PARTYOBSTRUCTION PARTYAs Trent Lott said: “The strategy of being obstructionist

can work or fail. … So far it's working for us.”

The President vetoed:The President vetoed: Stem cell research, twice Stem cell research, twice Changing course in IraqChanging course in Iraq Health insurance for childrenHealth insurance for children Funding for Departments of Labor, HHS and EducationFunding for Departments of Labor, HHS and Education

GOP: THE GRAND GOP: THE GRAND OBSTRUCTION PARTYOBSTRUCTION PARTY

Lower prescription-drug Lower prescription-drug costcost

Comprehensive Comprehensive immigration reformimmigration reform

Intelligence authorizationIntelligence authorization Troop readiness Troop readiness

legislationlegislation Majority votes to change Majority votes to change

course in Iraqcourse in Iraq

Veterans’ fundingVeterans’ funding D.C. voting rightsD.C. voting rights Farm billFarm bill Eliminating unfair tax Eliminating unfair tax

burdens of middle classburdens of middle class Addressing mortgage Addressing mortgage

crisiscrisis Building roads and Building roads and

bridgesbridges

Senate Republicans Blocked: