A New Direction For America

By Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

August is here, and if you’re like me, you are scratching your head and asking how it is that summer is almost over.

As I reflect back on the first seven months of 2007, I wanted to take this opportunity to report back to you about the work my colleagues in Congress and I have been doing on your behalf.

January ushered in a new Congress, the 110^th Congress, and a new direction for America. For the first time in twelve years, the majority of the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are Democrats, and with that majority, we had the privilege of electing the first woman Speaker of the House in American history –Nancy Pelosi! 

In the past seven months, the 110^th Congress has been making progress for the American people on the toughest challenges we face –working together to defend our country, restore accountability, grow our economy, strengthen our families, and preserve our environment.

Our New Direction Congress is also focused on changing course in Iraq. While our troops have bravely performed their duties, this war, now into its fifth year, has not made America safer or the world safer. Our mission in Congress is to hold the President accountable regarding our goals and objectives. Our mission is also to require that the Iraqi Government take responsibility for its own country so that we responsibly bring this war to an end and bring our troops home, out of harm’s way. 

Our New Direction Congress is also protecting America –by passing legislation that will finally make the work of the independent 9/11 Commission the law of the land. We have also passed laws that will improve our military readiness and require that we re-engage our diplomatic allies. We have passed laws that honor our troops and veterans with improved pay, services, and the heath care they deserve. And finally, we are working towards energy independence and working to reverse global warming by passing laws giving incentives for alternative fuels that help our environment while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Our New Direction Congress is also providing the keys to the American dream –investing in American ingenuity and innovation that will create millions of good jobs here at home. We are working to bring quality health care to every American child, and ensure that every child arrives at school ready to learn.  

No longer will we have business as usual in Washington. We are restoring fiscal responsibility by balancing the budget within four years, demanding government transparency through increased oversight, and enacting the highest ethical standards ever seen by any Congress in the history of America.

1. First minimum wage increase in 10 years.
2. Benchmarks and progress report required on Iraq.
3. Emergency assistance to protect children’s health coverage.
4. Hurricane relief to rebuild Gulf Coast housing, hospitals, schools and levees.
5. 9/11 Commission recommendations adopted to screen all air cargo and overseas port cargo that comes into ports like Port Everglades and Port of Miami.
6. Largest expansion of college aid since the GI Bill.
7. Largest increase for veterans’ health care in history.
8. 3,000 new border patrol agents funded.
9. Authorizing prosecution of gas price gouging and OPEC price fixing.
10. Vigorous Congressional oversight restored, saving billions of taxpayer dollars, exposing corruption and incompetence.

1. Funding of $1.9 million for national windstorm program, saving lives and protecting property by studying and preparing for wind storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
2. Amendment providing funding through the Ryan White Care Act to protect children from contracting AIDS through supportive neighborhood health clinics.

1. Provide training and resources for law enforcement to track down and lock up child pornographers who trade images of children on the internet.
2. Protect children from accidental drowning by passing national pool and spa safety legislation modeled on current Florida legislation I passed when I was in the Florida House.
3. Prevent life insurers from denying coverage to you simply because you plan to travel internationally to countries such as Israel, Colombia, or Kenya.
4. Secure funding for local projects vital for South Floridians ensuring that more of your tax dollars are returned to provide services in your community.