The most imminent crisis we face is the crisis we have the opportunity to address right now in our 2012 budget, and that is America's economic crisis.

Raising the retirement age would mean an immediate benefit cut for men and women of America.

if this vital economic engine is to be sustained, Congress must continue its investments in programs that help manufacturers compete

For every $1 of federal investment, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership delivers $32 in economic growth

Instead of jeopardizing the retirement security of millions of Americans through privatization, we must ensure that the wealthiest among us pay their fair share by raising the cap on the social security payroll tax.

We must increase funding for job training by increasing funding for the Workforce Investment Act to $4.5 billion.

An overwhelming majority of my constituents do not want this Congress to cut Federal initiatives that serve them.

The Head Start program has enabled hundreds of thousands of children to learn how to read, write, do arithmetic and be successful in elementary school.

This is why I strongly support adequate funding for viral hepatitis programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We must also make sure that our communities are safe by restoring funding for COPS hiring and COPS programs.

I am also here today to speak on the importance of homeownership and foreclosure prevention programs in the President's budget proposal.

Extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts, especially those for the wealthiest Americans, for two years is not the best way to begin addressing the deficit.