Chris Dodd believes that nothing is more important to America's future than protecting the security of our people. America faces challenges to its security that are very different today than they were even a few years ago. The threat of terrorism, of regional conflicts that can expand into wider wars, of unsecured nuclear stockpiles - these are but a few of the significant challenges that our nation must face in an intelligent and decisive manner.
He believes that America’s fighting men and women are doing their job in Iraq with extraordinary skill, commitment, and courage. He also believes that the best way to honor their service, and better provide for the security of our nation, is to set a new direction for America’s policy in Iraq. In his speech at Providence College, Senator Dodd calls for an end to America’s open-ended commitment to remain in Iraq indefinitely. Instead, he believes that the time has come for the Administration to begin to reposition troops to safer areas within Iraq, as well as to Afghanistan and other areas in the Middle East where they can serve other pressing national security priorities. He also called for measures to encourage peaceful, constructive political engagement within Iraq and among Iraq’s regional neighbors and the larger international community. In addition, he called for the international community to redouble efforts to rebuild Iraq and create the conditions for sustained economic development, which is so critical to that nation’s stability and success.
Chris Dodd believes that there is no more important domestic policy priority for our country than providing an excellent education to every American child. America's ability to meet virtually every challenge we face – from ensuring our national security to creating prosperity and preserving our precious American freedoms – depends on a well-educated populace. As Thomas Jefferson once said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Education is therefore the key to a successful future - for our children and for our country. For that reason, as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Dodd has dedicated himself to improving educational opportunity and excellence at all levels - from pre-school to post-graduate instruction.
Chris Dodd has a deep commitment to creating an energy policy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollution that threatens the future of our planet, and create millions of good jobs for Americans in the 21st century global economy.
For decades, America’s leaders have mostly talked about the need for reform of our nation’s energy policy. As a consequence of too much talk and too little action, our dependence on foreign oil has grown enormously, our environment has grown dangerously polluted, and our economy has endured threats to its continued vitality. In Chris Dodd’s view, the time for talk has long passed. It is time to act to create a safe, clean, reliable, and affordable supply of energy for America’s businesses and consumers.
Chris Dodd believes that all Americans deserve access to quality and affordable health care services. As one of the Senate’s foremost leaders in improving the quality and affordability of health care for all Americans, Dodd has authored and sponsored numerous bills to control skyrocketing health care and prescription drug costs. At the same time, Senator Dodd has led efforts to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens – our children, the elderly and the poor – are not left behind when it comes to health care.
Throughout his career, Senator Dodd has worked to ensure and protect the health of our nation’s children. As the senior Democrat on the Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development, Dodd has authored legislation to help guarantee that prescription drugs are safe and appropriate for use in children, to increase the screening of newborns for genetic disorders, to expand research into the causes and possible treatments for premature birth, and to make sure that the needs of children are a priority in the event of a terrorist attack. He also played an instrumental role in enacting legislation to extend health care to millions of poor children.
Chris Dodd believes that the best social program is a good job. Throughout his career, he has worked to support men and women in their efforts to innovate and grow the economy. He understands that for Americans to win the best jobs in the 21st century global economy, it is not enough for our national government to be a passive spectator – while other nations move aggressively to support their businesses and workers. Our national government must move with unmatched vigor to support and promote America’s businesses and working men and women.
Such an effort starts with sound federal budget policy. Dodd is a long-time supporter of budget reforms – particularly those that require pay-as-you-go discipline in spending and tax policy. He was a key supporter of the budget reform bills that in the late 1990's led to the first budget surpluses in over three decades. And he has voted against the Bush Republican tax bills that have turned those surpluses into record budget deficits. Those deficits have forced our nation to borrow in ever-growing amounts – from foreign governments, and from future generations of Americans. And deficits exert upward pressure on interest rates – acting as a de facto tax increase on Americans who seek capital to grow a business, purchase a home, buy a car, or finance a child’s college tuition
