[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9347]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 199--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
                ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL STRATEGIC AGENDA

  Mr. NELSON (for himself and Mr. Thune) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 199

       Whereas the United States needs its leaders to pursue 
     policies in the interest of the United States that are 
     foremost national priorities;
       Whereas the United States faces many fiscal and long-term 
     policy challenges that not only threaten the opportunities, 
     hopes, and aspirations of the citizens of the United States, 
     but the overall ability of the United States to be a world 
     leader in bringing peace and stability around the world;
       Whereas the United States needs its leaders to unite behind 
     common goals and concrete solutions to create the next 
     generation of growth and opportunity;
       Whereas a National Strategic Agenda can provide both a 
     long-term vision and a priority list, oriented around common 
     goals for the United States, both of which, as of May 2015, 
     do not exist in the Federal Government;
       Whereas adopting a National Strategic Agenda would bring a 
     long-term vision to a policymaking process that has become 
     too often dominated by short-term political considerations;
       Whereas a National Strategic Agenda can provide a 
     consistent framework and focus the attention of the Federal 
     Government on the most urgent problems facing the United 
     States;
       Whereas millions of people in the United States are 
     currently seeking employment opportunities to improve their 
     lives and provide a better future for their children;
       Whereas, as of May 2015, the Federal debt is higher as a 
     percentage of gross domestic product than at any time since 
     World War II and will be an unsustainable burden on future 
     generations if left unaddressed;
       Whereas the Social Security and Medicare benefits that 
     millions of people in the United States have earned must be 
     preserved and protected;
       Whereas a fiscally responsible solution to secure Social 
     Security and Medicare for future generations is needed now, 
     as waiting longer will further jeopardize the ability to 
     preserve and protect these programs;
       Whereas the United States can become energy secure by 
     pursuing an all-of-the-above energy plan that develops more 
     affordable and sustainable domestic energy sources, increases 
     energy efficiency, and builds a more reliable and resilient 
     system for energy generation and transmission; and
       Whereas the creation and implementation of a new National 
     Strategic Agenda for the United States will require the 
     participation of both the legislative and executive branch 
     along with agreement by all parties to work together: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the 4 goals of the National Strategic Agenda are to--
       (A) create 25,000,000 new jobs over the next 10 years;
       (B) balance the Federal budget by 2030;
       (C) secure Medicare and Social Security for the next 75 
     years; and
       (D) make the United States energy secure by 2024;
       (2) the Senate should strive to create, debate, and adopt 
     policy solutions to achieve the 4 goals of the National 
     Strategic Agenda to address the national interest and 
     priorities represented by the agenda; and
       (3) in achieving success toward the National Strategic 
     Agenda, the goal of the Senate should be to reach solutions 
     through--
       (A) collaboration, not division;
       (B) mutual respect, not partisan bickering; and
       (C) a commitment to honor the public duty of the Senate to 
     the United States as a body of representatives elected by 
     people across the United States.

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