[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 4 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S127-S128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES AND VALUES

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today Senate Democrats introduced 10 
bills that illustrate the priorities and values we intend to fight for 
in the coming months to meet our commitments to the American people. It 
is an agenda for a future of security, opportunity, and responsibility. 
The contrast with the Bush administration and the Republican leadership 
in Congress could not be greater. They say they are for ownership, but 
their vision means an America divided. In a society based on ownership, 
we are divided by winners and losers, rich and poor, a shrinking middle 
class, owners and those who cannot afford to own.
  Republicans see the forces of globalization as a chance for greater 
profits at the expense of job and wage security for American families. 
Democrats are for opportunity for all. Our vision is for an America 
united to provide opportunity for all Americans and to fulfill the 
American dream.
  We embrace the challenges of globalization not by lowering our wages 
but raising our skills to equip every American to compete for good jobs 
in the local economy.
  I will mention three areas in which Democrats have introduced bills 
today that reflect our values and priorities. First, health care. It is 
an honor to join our Democratic leader and so many of our colleagues in 
introducing the Affordable Health Care Act in meeting our 
responsibility to the Medicare Beneficiaries Act. This Affordable 
Health Care Act states our strong commitment as Democrats to end the 
crisis in health care that affects every family. It is a downpayment on 
our commitment to quality, affordable health care for every American 
and we will not rest until that goal is achieved.
  The worsening crisis in health care is caused by skyrocketing costs, 
declining insurance coverage, and less security for every family. 
Businesses, especially small businesses, find it increasingly difficult 
to provide decent coverage for their employees. Rising health care 
costs threaten the competitiveness of all American businesses. Even 
people who have health insurance today cannot count on it being there 
for them tomorrow. No American family is more than one pink slip or one 
employer decision away from being uninsured.
  In the face of this massive crisis in health care, the administration 
and Congress have been missing in action for too long. The legislation 
we are offering today will not solve all of these problems, but it is a 
good start and we are committed to finishing the job. It will guarantee 
coverage for every child. It will lower prescription drug costs by 
allowing importation of safe drugs from abroad. It will improve the 
quality of health systems while reducing costs at the same time by 
adopting a modern information technology in health care.
  Affordable health care is a high priority for every family and it 
should be an equally high priority for this Congress. We face a crisis 
and it is time to act. Senate Democrats are committed to guaranteeing 
the basic right to health care for all Americans and when we say 
``all,'' we mean all.
  The legislation we are introducing today cuts the special interest 
deals out of the Medicare Program, addresses the troubling gaps in the 
Medicare drug benefit. Medicare is a solid commitment to our senior 
citizens, not a piggy bank for special interests, and it is time to 
fulfill that commitment.

  Second is education. Our Nation's future depends on ensuring equal 
educational opportunities for all children. We must keep the promise to 
leave no child behind. For Democrats, this is not just a slogan. For 
us, it is a moral commitment. This year alone, the Bush administration 
underfunded No Child Left Behind by $9.8 billion, leaving 4 million 
children behind. In contrast, we propose fully funding No Child Left 
Behind and also keeping our promises to disabled children by fully 
funding the Individuals With Disability Education Act.
  We also recognize that what we do for children's early education and 
development does more to ensure their success later in school and later 
in life

[[Page S128]]

than any other investment. Democrats are committed to making this 
investment by expanding Head Start, early Head Start, and childcare 
funding. At the same time, we propose improving the quality of these 
programs by requiring improved standards for teachers and seeing that 
they are supported, trained, and adequately compensated to do the job.
  We also must do more to ensure that America is globally competitive 
by raising our skills. To be globally competitive, we must also inspire 
a renaissance in math and science education in America so that all 
Americans are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Today, Democrats are 
taking an essential first step in winning the global and math/science 
arms race by making college tuition free for any young person willing 
to work as a math, science, or special education teacher. We must make 
the United States first in the world rather than 29th in math and 
science.
  Finally, when it comes to jobs, the Fair Wage, Competition and 
Investment Act will help restore the faith of Americans that if they 
work hard and play by the rules they can live the American dream.
  The bill raises the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour to improve the 
quality of life for 7.5 million workers. Despite Democratic efforts to 
raise it, the minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 an hour for 7 long 
years.
  And the bill will restore overtime protections for the more than 6 
million Americans denied overtime pay and the guarantee of the 40-hour 
workweek by the Republican overtime rule. It will also expand overtime 
protections to cover additional workers.
  The Democratic bill eliminates tax breaks for companies that ship 
good American jobs overseas. It requires companies that send jobs to 
other countries to provide advance warning to workers and communities.
  The bill makes significant investments in American roads and 
waterways, broadband technology, and research and development to 
increase our competitiveness, improve the quality of our lives, and 
create new jobs to help make up for those lost under Republican 
leadership.
  These are the kinds of initiatives that Democrats will fight for this 
year--initiatives that will expand opportunity, provide a secure future 
for our families, and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

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