"President Bush presented a bold agenda for our country. I look forward to working closely with him on issues that are so important to the American people, such as healthcare, education, and homeland security. These are challenging times at home and around the world. We will have to work together in a bipartisan spirit and with our international partners if we are going to achieve progress and peace now and for future generations.
"I support the President''s call for continued support for our troops, particularly those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must do everything possible to ensure that our troops have the resources they need to accomplish their mission as safely as possible. The Iraqi elections demonstrated that with U.S. and international support, the Iraqi people can take the steps necessary to achieve democracy and stability.
"I am particularly encouraged by President Bush''s support for increased funding for Pell Grants, which help students from low-income families afford higher education. I also believe that we should take a step further to increase the maximum award to $4,500 for the 2005-2006 award year, a $450 increase in a single year. I have introduced legislation to provide this higher level of funding, so that more students can achieve the dream of a college education."