The 110th Congress is making progress for the American people on the toughest challenges we face—working together to defend our country, restore accountability, grow our economy, and strengthen our families. Since January, more than 60 key measures have passed the House and/or Senate, most with significant bipartisan support.

However, in critical instances, the President and his Republican allies in Congress have stubbornly stood in the way of progress with more than 30 veto threats, obstruction and delay.

The New Direction Congress is working to change course in Iraq. This war, now into its fifth year, has not made America safer, even as our troops have bravely performed their duties.

This Congress continues to demand that President Bush and the Administration be held
accountable, that the Iraqi government take responsibility for its own country, and that we responsibly bring this war to an end.

The New Direction Congress is protecting America—acting to finally make the work of the independent 9/11 Commission the law of the land. We are rebuilding our military readiness and requiring that we re-engage our diplomatic allies. We are honoring our troops and veterans with pay, services, and care they deserve. We are declaring our energy independence and working to reverse global warming.

The New Direction Congress is providing the keys to the American dream—investing in American ingenuity and innovation. We are working to bring quality health care to every American child, and every child to school ready to learn. We are making America’s rural
heartland a key to America’s future economic and energy security. We have changed the way we do business in Washington by restoring fiscal responsibility, government transparency, and the highest ethical standards to Congress.

These are the first of many steps in a New Direction for a stronger and more secure America.

DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY

Iraq

• Demanded a Change of Course in Iraq.  In May, President Bush vetoed an Emergency Supplemental Bill that reflected the wishes of the American public, many senior military leaders, and a bipartisan majority of the Congress.  While the New Direction Congress later sent the President a bill that begins the process of holding the Administration and the Iraqi government accountable, more must be done. Senate Democrats remain committed to changing course in Iraq and it will remain at the forefront of our agenda until the President and his Republican allies in Congress finally heed the will of the American people and work with us to bring the war to a successful and responsible end.

• Conducted Oversight and Accountability.  The Senate has held 89 hearings on Iraq in the 110th Congress, uncovering waste, fraud and abuse and making the case for a change of course. 

• Provided for Veterans.  The New Direction Congress passed the 2008 Budget Resolution allocating $43.1 billion for veterans, which is more than $3 billion above the President’s request and represents the largest increase in veterans’ health care in history.

• Implemented the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission  The New Direction Congress has passed all the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, after they had been pushed aside by past Congresses and the Administration for several years. Inexplicably, Senate Republicans are now stopping this bill from going to conference and becoming law. Democrats will continue to pressure Senate Republicans to do the right thing because every day we wait is another day that America is less safe than it should be.  See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Democrats' New Direction for Homeland Security Will Make America More Secure, for more information on this legislation. 

• Increased Funding for Homeland Security

The New Direction Congress is making America more secure by ensuring first responders, state and local governments and transportation departments have the resources they need. 

• Port Security - $110 million
• Rail and Mass Transit Security - $100 million
• Explosive Detection Systems for Airline Baggage - $285 million
• Air Cargo Security - $80 million to inspect cargo on commercial passenger airlines.

STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY

• Raised the Minimum Wage. Democrats passed a much deserved and long overdue raise in the federal minimum wage for working people. See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Senate Democrats Voted to Move the Country in A New Direction, Towards Better Pay, for more information on this legislation.

• Passed a Fiscally Responsible Budget. Democrats have passed a balanced budget that restores fiscal discipline and puts the middle class first – cutting middle class taxes while increasing investment in education, veterans’ care and children’s health care. Read more (http://democrats.senate.gov/journal/entry.cfm?id=274575&)

• Funded the Government.  Last year’s “Do-Nothing” Republican Congress failed to pass the appropriations bills needed to fund the government.   The New Direction Congress in its first days cleaned up their mess by passing a fiscally responsible bill that invested in the priorities of the American people. 

• Supported Innovation.  The America COMPETES Act returns our country to a position of leadership in science, research and technology. See the DPC Legislative Bulletin entitled, S. 761, the America Competes Act, for more information on this legislation.

• Katrina relief. Provided nearly $6.3 billion to keep the President’s commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina. 

• Farm relief.  Provided $3.0 billion to help farmers and ranchers recover from drought, floods, storms, and other disasters.

• Western Wildfire Relief.  Provided $465 million to help prevent and fight wildfires in the west and elsewhere.

Reducing America’s Dependence on Oil. With strong bipartisan support, Senate Democrats passed an energy bill that will grow our economy, strengthen our national security and protect our environment. If passed into law, this bill will put America  on a path toward reducing our reliance on oil by increasing supply of renewable fuels produced right here at home – and decreasing the amount of energy we use in our cars, homes and offices. Read more ...

STRENGTHENING OUR FAMILIES

Health Care

• Children’s Health Care. The New Direction Congress provided nearly $400 million to ensure that states don’t run out of money for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  In the coming weeks we will seek to reauthorize this successful program that keeps millions of children healthy. See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Improving Health Coverage for Children is America's Top Health Priority, as well as the Debating SCHIP Reauthorization: Setting the Record Straight for more information on this issue.

• Stem Cell Research.  For the second year in a row, Congress gave the hope of stem cell research to millions of Americans who suffer. Unfortunately, President Bush has again vetoed the bill putting the politics of his narrow ideology ahead of saving lives. See DPC Fact Sheet entitled, NIH Director Agrees that Federally Funded Scientists Should Have Access to New Embryonic Stem Cell Lines, for more information on this issue.

RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY

Cleaning Up Government

• Passed the Most Sweeping Reform Since Watergate.   Strengthened Senate rules regarding gifts and travel, slowed the “revolving door” for former Senators and staff, expanded lobbying disclosure requirements, established a study commission on ethics and lobbying, prohibited pensions for Members of Congress convicted of certain crimes, and implemented reform of earmarks and conference reports. Inexplicably, Senate Republicans are blocking these reforms from being adopted.  See the DPC Fact Sheet entitled, Senate Democrats Passed the Toughest, Most Sweeping Ethics Reform in a Generation, for more information on this legislation.

• Restored Checks and Balances to the Appointment Process for United States Attorneys and Safeguarded the Integrity of our Justice System.  Returned to an effective, proven process to ensure that appropriate checks and balances are in place for the appointment of U.S. Attorneys.  See the DPC Legislative Bulletin entitled, S. 214, the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, for more information on this legislation.