Congress’ inability to complete immigration reform and border security measures this year is a colossal failure on the part of Washington.

We could have immediately passed a border security bill – we could be making progress right now to secure the borders. Instead we have a political food fight – intra-party squabbling and extreme disappointment. Unfortunately, my prediction has come true and another year has passed, hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings have occurred, and the "do everything" approach has done nothing.

Last fall, I set out to change the way Washington approached illegal immigration by introducing a bipartisan border security first bill that separates the issues and makes it possible to move forward on securing the border.

Border security is a national security imperative. We cannot allow the borders to remain open indefinitely and we must act to avoid failing for the eleventh year in a row to secure our border.

For far too long, Americans have been shackled to our dependence on foreign energy. This dependence has tethered our security to distant and unstable lands, like the Middle East. And, with every tug and pull at these chains of dependence from rogue nations and brazen terrorists, the effects are felt at gas stations in every hometown across America - and in every American's wallet.

But, we have a choice. Every link in this chain of dependence can be broken by developing America's known sources of energy - a critical first step in achieving long-term energy independence. Unfortunately, our dependence on foreign energy was chosen for us by liberal special interests who have said "No!" to a comprehensive domestic energy policy for more than 30 years. This so-called energy policy empowered other nations to fetter us to unpredictable foreign energy markets. As a result, America is less secure. Over the past year, gas prices have ballooned, and Americans have finally mustered up the strength to diversify their energy policy, and break out of the shackles of foreign energy dependence.

The recent oil find in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico exemplifies our country's immense domestic energy potential. One of the largest oil fields in American history may lie under the ocean. But we'll never know for sure unless these areas are explored. The bipartisan Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act gives Americans freedom from foreign energy dependence, which is as unpredictable as sandstorms in the Arabian deserts.

We must remember - an America independent of foreign energy is an America that is secure for every current and future citizen of this nation.

Today the Senate returned after a recess in which we returned home to our states to talk with constituents about the pressing issues facing our nation. In travels that took me back to Tennessee and across the country, citizens expressed to me concern over the security of the homeland and our ability to win the War on Terrorism. Today, I laid out the Senate agenda that will clearly show the American people that the number one priority of the Republican-led Congress is the safety, security, and continued prosperity of this country.

First off, we continue debate today over funding for the Department of the Defense. Our soldiers must have the all the resources necessary to secure Iraq and Afghanistan and win victory for democracy in the Middle East. I hope each and every one of my colleagues will join me in demonstrating their commitment to the troops, their commitment to strengthening and enhancing our security here at home, and their commitment to winning the War on Terror by passing the Defense appropriations bill this week.

We need to strengthen the terrorist surveillance program by modernizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's definitions of electronic surveillance and communication and by enhancing Congressional oversight. We need to consider legislation building on last year’s Bio-terror bill by further refining and enhancing our defenses against non-traditional terrorist attacks. Read more...

A successful strike during Friday's test of our national missile defense system is proof positive that this technology is improving to better protect our nation from the threat of a missile strike. In a world where rogue regimes like North Korea and Iran seek to acquire missile technology and nuclear weapons to threaten the sovereignty of the United States, we must remain committed more than ever to the development of a national missile defense system.

Friday's launch mirrored a scenario in which North Korea launched a Taepodong-2 missile toward a city on the West Coast of the United States. North Korea currently possesses the technology to achieve the capability to strike a target in the western United States, and I am confident in our efforts to develop a missile defense shield that thwarts a North Korean attack.

I encourage Lt. General Obering and the Missile Defense Agency to continue its rigorous testing to enhance the reliability of our defense strike capability. Not every test will be as successful as Friday, but it is through these tests that the United States will be able to better protect its citizens and allies.

It is mystifying that we would roll out the red carpet to a person who has incited violence against civilians and who has expressed incendiary rhetoric against the United States and our allies.  Khatami, who has gone on record as saying "Above all, we have received the greatest harm from unjust policies of America," and "If we abide by the Koran, all of us should mobilize to kill," is being extended the honor of visiting our national monuments, and even speaking at the National Cathedral -- the incarnation of our nation's treasuring of the kind of freedoms - religious and otherwise - for which Khatami has expressed derision.

We spotted an item in the local Nevada news yesterday, Sen. Reid calling for an increase in the minimum wage on Labor Day, almost a rite of passage for anyone who seeks union support. It is after all a year divisible by 2, thereby guaranteeing that a minimum wage debate will be upon us. Best estimates are that about 1.5 percent of the total workforce of 150 million workers in the United States earn the minimum wage. We have a better idea, one that would put more money in the pockets of all workers.

When Congress comes back today, they will find some unfinished business. Among the issues left to be resolved is the bill that passed both the House and Senate prior to the Labor Day break allowing us to tap our own resources in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). As our annual Labor Day Report showed, both health care and energy costs are taking a bigger bite out of workers' paychecks, making them feel like they are falling behind. Members from both parties well appreciate the fact that there are no silver bullets to fix the health care issue.

However, when it comes to energy, anyone who has taken Economics 101 ought to be able to see their way clear. We are the only nation in the world that restricts access to its own natural resources, a fairly astonishing fact. We call all those other countries, "competitors." They are busy pulling all the energy they can from all sources in order to compete more effectively with us. In France alone, they get 80% of their energy from nuclear power. Cuba is drilling for oil some 45 miles off our coast and is getting ready to work with China to allow them to do the same. Yet we sit on massive -- and untouchable -- oil, coal and natural gas reserves. And American workers are quite literally paying the price.

The power to put more money in workers' pockets is in Congress' hands. Finishing work on the OCS bill will open up domestic supplies of energy and will begin to bring down the cost of energy for all workers. It really is that easy. Of course, we need alternative sources, efficiency and conservation. Manufacturers are on the leading edge of all three. But this is not an either/or proposition. We need to be about the business of boosting domestic supply.

Then Members can go back to the District and say they've truly done something to enhance the well-being of all American workers.

Yesterday I attended a Labor Day picnic in Hapeville, Georgia, where I met with local labor leaders and working families to celebrate the American worker and share concerns regarding the future of American labor.

American workers face unprecedented competition from abroad, a domestic economy in flux, and an Administration and Congress that have been wholly unsympathetic to their needs. Working families, who are the backbone and keystone of our economy, are pinched by high gas prices, exorbitant healthcare expenses, and stagnant wages.

As we navigate these complicated times, we must not neglect the very real and pressing needs of the American worker and working families. I hope you'll join me in honoring them. As we move forward, we must remember to defend and stand with those upon whom we – and the whole world – rely.

This Labor Day, it appears that a "perfect storm" is gathering that may well sweep away Republican control of the Congress this fall. It is a storm fueled by three developments:


First, profound economic trends have strained working families to the breaking point – workers are not sharing in the wealth they helped create and our nation’s economic recovery has not been a recovery for workers at all.


Second, as you might expect, new polling shows that most voters are painfully aware of these problems and pocketbook issues will be top voting issues this fall.


And finally, the AFL-CIO is making the largest effort in our history in an off-year election, driving home these pocketbook issues. We will play the largest role we've ever played in electing the candidates we've endorsed in many of the pivotal competitive races for the House and Senate.


Why do unions engage in political action at this level?


For workers, a “perfect storm Read more...

While the cost of Medicare will inevitably continue to grow, we must ensure that taxpayer dollars are well spent and that health care will become affordable. That's why, when elected, I will fight to require Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower drug prices and close the coverage
gap known as the 'donut hole.' Curt Weldon has taken $62,000 in donations from the pharmaceutical and health product industry for his campaigns as well as $144,000 from insurance companies. It comes as no surprise that the giant drug companies are funding commercials thanking Curt Weldon; they've raked-in billions in profits as a result of the Bush/Weldon Medicare D plan at the expense of local seniors. It's ironic that these ads have aired just as an untold number of Pennsylvania seniors are facing the coverage gap known as the 'donut hole.'