Senate Democrats have made much progress in the 110th Congress, but we have much more work to do to. The American people are not satisfied with the current state of our country - and quite frankly, neither are we. That is why Democrats are working every day to bring about that change, fighting to enact an ambitious agenda.

Unfortunately, some of our Republican colleagues are fighting for more of the same policies that have weakened our economic and national security making it evident that America needs a President and more Senators committed to change if we are to make the American Dream affordable again and make America more secure.

LOWERING ENERGY PRICES

Democrats are committed to both short- and long-term solutions to our energy crisis. In this Congress, we have made the United States more energy efficient and independent by passing an energy bill that will grow our economy, strengthen our national security and protect our environment. We have put America on a path toward reducing our reliance on oil by increasing the supply of renewable fuels produced right here at home and raising fuel-efficiency standards for our cars, homes and offices for the first time in a generation.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe that to solve our energy crisis, we must address the root causes of high gas prices, use our existing resources better, and invest more in energy efficiency and clean alternatives. We want to accelerate production in the 68 million acres already open and open up new leases in areas that are not environmentally protected so we can increase supply now. We also want to protect consumers from price gouging and OPEC manipulation, stop greedy traders from artificially inflating oil prices, release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and develop a plan to save millions of barrels of oil a day.

STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY

Democrats are committed to making the American Dream affordable again so that families can get ahead. We are working to turn around seven years of bad economic policy that has left the middle class squeezed between prices that are rising and incomes that are not. In this Congress we helped families facing the foreclosure crisis keep their homes and their home values, raised the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, made a college education more affordable and accessible, and are keeping the U.S. competitive in the global economy. We also revitalized the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, cut taxes for the middle class and businesses and brought fiscal responsibility back to Washington.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe we must control skyrocketing health-care costs and provide coverage for working families, and we must put the interests of the middle class ahead of the wealthiest Americans.

MAKING AMERICA MORE SECURE

Democrats are committed to refocusing our military efforts on the very real threat Al Qaeda poses and redeploying our troops from Iraq's civil war. In this Congress, Democrats introduced benchmarks to measure progress in Iraq; implemented the 9/11 Commission's recommendations; and secured our borders, ports and transit systems.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe we must refocus our efforts on Afghanistan in order to more effectively fight the war on terror.

HONORING OUR VETERANS AND TROOPS

Democrats are committed to fulfilling our country's obligation to those who voluntarily answer the call of duty, including giving them the resources they need to succeed in battle and the support they need to succeed when they come home. In this Congress, Democrats passed the largest-ever increase in veterans' health care, addressed shortfalls in the care of our wounded warriors and expanded medical care for our veterans. We also funded mine-resistant vehicles to protect our troops in the field, gave our military an across-the-board pay raise over the President's objections, and passed a G.I. Bill to help 21st-century veterans afford college.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe we must ensure our troops are properly prepared for battle before we send them to war - including giving them more time to train, prepare for and recover from battle.

KEEPING AMERICANS HEALTHY

Democrats are committed to improving Americans' health and strengthening their health care. In this Congress, Democrats improved drug safety, funded health care for women, lowered health-care costs for seniors, strengthened care for people with mental illness, blocked a schedule fee cut for doctors who care for Medicare patients and funded global HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe we must ensure children from low-income families have the health care they need, recognize the promise we can unlock by investing in stem-cell research and lower prescription-drug costs to benefit middle-class Americans instead of pharmaceutical companies.

RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO WASHINGTON

Democrats are committed to give Americans a government as good and honest as the people it represents. In this Congress, we passed the most sweeping ethics and lobbying reform since Watergate and brought oversight to the war in Iraq with more than 160 hearings into the Administration's waste, fraud abuse and mismanagement. We also strengthened the commission charged with keeping our children safe from toxic toys, and ensured politics do not contaminate our justice system by launching the investigation that led to Attorney General Gonzales's resignation.

But there is more to be done. Democrats believe we must fully restore to government the system of checks and balances that the Bush Administration has ignored, and hold the Administration accountable for unfulfilled promises of progress in Iraq.