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By blocking action on the Dream Act, Senate Republicans prevented a critical first step to address our nation's broken immigration system.

Our immigration system needs to honor the promise of America and recognize the enormous contributions that immigrants make to our nation. But it must do so in a way that makes our nation safer, protects all workers, and respects the rule of law.

President Bush envisions a 10-year war in Iraq that the Congressional Budget Office now estimates will cost taxpayers nearly $2 trillion over the next decade. That estimate is a far cry from the Administration's original claim of a $50 billion price that the Iraqis could pay themselves. The depth of this tragedy is stunning, particularly for our military families -- and for prospects for peace in the region.

In the wake of Congressional hearings into billions of dollars lost to waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, and given the continuing scandals over contractors such as Blackwater USA, we will hold the President's request for nearly $200 billion more to the highest level of scrutiny.

"Our relationship with any country should help make the world safer, economies stronger, and people freer. Three pillars of U.S. foreign policy are: protecting our national security, growing our economy by increasing American exports abroad; and promoting democratic freedom and human rights around the world."