Our country's strength and success is based on our robust middle class. These days, too many American families feel that the American Dream is slipping away – they are worried about finding good jobs, sending their kids to college, losing the equity in their homes, and even foreclosure. Rebuilding the American Dream so that every individual has access to opportunity and success is a challenge, but not an impossible one. The Great Recession and the current federal budget problems were no accident; they were the result of decades of policies that further enriched the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, as well as Bush Administration policies that put wars and tax cuts for the rich on a credit card and turned a blind eye to Wall Street’s recklessness.  By creating the perfect storm, these man-made mistakes led to a devastating financial collapse.

But we are not helpless in the face of these challenges. I am fighting for job creation, economic opportunity for all, help for those who are struggling, and fair and responsible ways to reduce the deficit.

In Congress, I am a leader on progressive solutions to our economic and fiscal challenges and I have offered specific proposals on deficit reduction, jobs, and tax policy. I served on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (the Bowles-Simpson Commission), and offered an alternative to the co-Chair's proposal to show what a real balanced plan would look like - one that didn't further burden struggling middle class and low income families.

We also need to make sure that people are employed in good jobs that provide them with a living wage and benefits so that workers can take care of their families.