After five years of failed policies, America is ready for a new direction. Families are tired of paying sky-high prices for gasoline and health care that make it impossible to save for a college education and a secure retirement. They are legitimately worried about our national security strategy, and demand a new course of action to secure our borders, eliminate terrorism, and protect our troops. And sadly, more and more families are falling into poverty because of low wages and constant outsourcing of American jobs. These families cannot endure more of the same failed policies. They need leaders with a new plan to restore opportunity, security, and prosperity to every town in America.

Fortunately, my Democratic colleagues and I have developed a new strategy that will benefit every single American. Our New Direction agenda will help this country return to the priorities of the American people, peace and prosperity.

The New Direction agenda includes five key components:

·        REAL SECURITY – We must have and can have a new national security strategy that seeks greater international cooperation in the War on Terror and prioritizes border security here at home. After being in Iraq for more than 3 years, losing over 2,700 soldiers, and spending over $330 billion it is time to develop a new plan to complete the mission in Iraq. We also need to secure our borders and stop the more than 500,000 illegal immigrants who enter our country each year. This can be done by investing in more Border Patrol agents, Immigration Enforcement officers, border fences, and cutting-edge surveillance technologies, and by developing an effective Department of Homeland Security capable of enforcing our borders. 

·        AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE – Our country must lower the cost of health insurance so American families can afford high-quality health care services. We must first fix the Medicare prescription drug program by passing a new benefit with price negotiation. This would save as much as $40 billion a year and significantly reduce the price of prescription drugs for all Americans. Then we must work to provide all Americans with affordable health insurance by extending the Federal Employment Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) to anyone under the age of 55. This would give all Americans the same health insurance program as Members of Congress and their congressional staff.

·        ENERGY INDEPENDENCE – There is no reason why families should have to pay up to $3 a gallon for gasoline when we know how to free America from its dependence on foreign oil. We need to conduct an anti-trust investigation into the oil companies, enact tough price gouging laws, and make a serious investment in alternative sources of energy such as biofuels that we can produce right here in Arkansas. This will lower the price of gas, open new markets for our agriculture community, create good jobs in our communities, and produce a cleaner environment.

·        COLLEGE ACCESS FOR ALL – Every American should have the opportunity to pursue higher education regardless of their income. We must reverse the current raid on student aid by cutting student loan interest rates in half from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent on new student loans and from 8.5 percent to 4.25 percent on new parent loans. This proposal would save the typical college student in Arkansas $5,560 over the lifetime of his or her loan. We must also raise the maximum Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100 to help low-income students gain access to higher education. These changes will help all Americans gain the knowledge and training to be successful leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

·        EMPLOYMENT SECURITY – The current minimum wage is at its lowest point in fifty years after adjusting for inflation. Congress must raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 so workers can afford to support their families. Our leaders must take a stand and refuse to support another congressional pay raise until we raise the nation’s minimum wage. We must also put an end to tax giveaways that reward companies for moving American jobs overseas. Hardworking American families should always come first.

·        RETIREMENT SECURITY – After years of Republican threats to privatize Social Security, it is time we elect leaders who will protect the Social Security Trust Fund. Hardworking Americans earned their retirement checks and deserve to retire in comfort without any concern for their economic security. We must also enact real pension reform that will protect employee earnings from CEO corruption and mismanagement and expand personal savings incentives.

I am excited about these great changes to come and hope America joins me in supporting this New Direction agenda. We will ensure that America remains the most powerful country in the world where we all feel fortunate to live, work, and raise a family.