100 Hours In - Democrats Take Initial Steps to Help Americans
By: U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis

Times certainly are different on Capitol Hill these days. During the first one hundred hours of the 110th Congress the new Democratic Majority passed crucial legislation that put the needs of the American people above the desires of the special interests. Once again the House of Representatives can honestly be called "The People's House."

When the American people went to their polling places in November they endorsed a new kind of government-a government by the people and for the people. Americans rejected politics of fear, incompetence, and at times corrupt government, and the era of corporate welfare and special interest giveaways. Instead, the voters asked for new leadership in Washington; leadership that puts the needs of the average American first and foremost.

In the first one hundred hours of the 110th Congress we have taken solid first steps towards balancing the budget, making Congress more accountable to the people, making America more secure, increasing the minimum wage, making prescription drugs cheaper for seniors, making college more affordable, and reducing corporate welfare for Big Oil.

House Democrats changed the rules governing Congress to end the corruption and abuse that plagued the 109th Congress by banning Representatives from accepting travel and gifts paid for by lobbyists, and putting in place transparency requirements to end the special interest earmarks and the pay-to-play politics that was the norm under the previous majority's rule. Additionally, and unlike under the Republican Majority, the Democratic led Congress made a commitment to fiscal responsibility and passed pay-as-you-go budget rules that would require any increase in spending be offset in the budget.

Protecting the American people is a top priority of this Congress, which is why we implemented the remaining 9/11 Commission recommendations. In December 2005 the 9/11 Commission gave the Administration and Congress poor grades on implementing their recommendations. The newly passed recommendations will increase port security, allow for better intelligence oversight, and help keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists. These recommendations are vital to strengthening America's national security.

Raising the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour is plain commonsense. This increase will directly benefit 5.6 million Americans (including 151,000 Tennesseans) and millions more American workers will indirectly benefit. I think it is high time the least amongst us got a little recognition from Congress. Additionally, by allowing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate directly with drug companies for cheaper drug prices we hope to decrease the cost of prescription drugs our seniors need for a healthy life. Like raising the minimum wage, giving the elderly access to cheaper prescription drugs is a moral obligation.

One of the main challenges facing future generations is energy. Energy independence should be a priority of any nation that is truly concerned about its security. This is why I joined my Democratic and Republican colleagues in ending the corporate welfare given to Big Oil by repealing some of their taxpayer funded subsidies in order to invest in renewable fuels. This legislation will help end our country's dependence on foreign oil and help create new jobs in the renewable fuels industry. Both aspects of the bill will be extremely beneficial for future generations to come.

Not only has the new Democratic majority changed the direction of the country, but we have also changed the tone in Washington, as evidenced by the bipartisan support in passing these bills in the first one hundred hours. Since the first gavel of the new Congress the air in Washington has seemed a little fresher, and the future of our nation appears much brighter.