Jobs and Economy
Every day, from farmers to small business owners and nurses to computer programmers, 150 million Americans across the nation go to work to provide for their families. They are the economic engine of our country, creating and selling hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and services. But the Administration's attacks on working families has forced 5 million middle class Americans into poverty over the last three years, and put the economic strength of our country in jeopardy. Since the start of the Bush Administration, 1 million private sector jobs have been lost. Long-term unemployment is at a ten year high. Wages can't keep up with increasing inflation, interest rates, education or healthcare costs. And 6 million workers have lost their right to earn overtime pay.

Democrats are fighting to reverse policies that favor wealthy corporate interests at the expense of America's workers and economic security. We want to end tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs and cut taxes for small businesses and domestic manufacturers that create jobs here at home. Our plans will ease the economic squeeze on middle-class families.


Education
Education is the foundation of opportunity. A strong education system provides Americans from across the country the knowledge and training they need to be the successful leaders and innovators of tomorrow. But, despite their promises, Republicans have not given schools, students or teachers the resources they need.

This year, the Bush Administration provided $9.4 billion less than promised in the No Child Left Behind Act - demanding schools improve without giving them the funds they need to do so. This shortfall leaves 2.4 million children without needed help in reading and math and cuts teacher quality programs by $234 million. Federal Pell Grants have been frozen and funding slashed for Perkins Loans, lessening two major sources of badly needed financial aid at a time when tuition costs are skyrocketing. That's why Democrats in Congress developed plans to make quality education accessible and affordable to every American.


Health Care
In the face of steadily increasing premiums and the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, Americans are continually faced with the challenge of finding and keeping affordable health care. Millions of Americans are never sure if their health care coverage will be there when they need it. Today, one in six Americans has no health insurance, millions more are under-insured, and the number of the uninsured has increased by almost 4 million since the beginning of the Bush Administration. So while America has the most advanced health care system in the world, many of us are facing increasing costs, difficulties finding care, and hassles from our insurance companies. Fortunately, there are ways the government can help.


Environment
Protecting the environment is vital to protect the health of all Americans, particularly our children. College Democrats are fighting for cleaner air, cleaner water, and preservation of our natural resources, understanding that what we do today has an impact on future generations of Americans. We stand up for fair policies that protect America's environment while allowing for economic opportunity--priorities that can work together.


National Security
After the tragedy of September 11th, America took strong steps to close the gaps in our national defense. We have made remarkable progress in improving our security, but there is still work to be done. First responders and law enforcement officials do not have the resources and information they need to keep us safe from new terrorist threats, and security efforts at our ports, railways and commercial aircraft are under-funded. We have a responsibility to the 9/11 victims and their families to confront the deficiencies in our national security so that we can prevent another terrorist attack. Working together, we can tackle our greatest challenges and protect the American people.


Energy
Today, America depends on oil controlled by some of the world's most repressive regimes. As a consequence, America has too often been silent about the practices of these governments because we depend on the oil that they control.

American ingenuity is the envy of the world and we must harness this ingenuity toward investments in the natural world around us. We as party are committed to renewable sources of energy that harness natural resources such as the sun, wind, water, geothermal and biomass sources, and our nation's rich array of crops.

We support the American people's freedom to choose whatever cars they enjoy, but also affirm our belief that American ingenuity can improve vehicular energy-efficiency. Although it may not happen over night, the Democratic Party is committed to research that will assist America in overcoming the obstacles to hydrogen as a clean and reliable domestic source of energy.

The Democratic Party also believes that we have a responsibility to exercise our ingenuity in ensuring that new technologies produce more efficient electricity. This will best be achieved through investments in the coal industry that will development and implement cleaner coal technology and produce electric and hydrogen power, without compromising universal access to reliable supplies of electricity.

The College Democrats will remain faithful to achieving energy independence. Not only will energy independence protect our values, but is will reduce energy costs for our families, create high-paying new jobs, and lead to healthier living through an improved environment.