Dear Lucas,
I'm writing to give you an update about what's going on in the Senate. Simply put, I'm pretty frustrated.
At a time when our country faces so many pressing challenges, Republicans in the Senate continue to use the filibuster to block critical national priorities like repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," funding health care for 9/11 first responders, and passing the DREAM Act.
Republicans have said plain and simple that they will do absolutely nothing until they extend Bush tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.
Funding Health Care for 9/11 First Responders
Now, you would think there would be some issues immune from politics - some actions so important and self-evident that they demand we put other debates aside and fulfill the moral obligation we have as a nation.
Apparently, funding health care for the heroes who rushed to Ground Zero on 9/11 or the innocent children and families that were living in the area of Lower Manhattan is not one of those issues. The idea that this critical funding would be derailed by a completely unrelated fight over tax cuts for millionaires is just offensive to me.
That's the disappointing reality we are facing in the Senate right now. I'm stunned, but I'm not ready to give up this fight. There are Democrats AND Republicans who want another opportunity to do the right thing on this issue.
We might have to wait until after the tax package is voted on to set things right, but I will continue to push my colleagues - on both sides of the aisle - to get this done.
Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Earlier this week, a defense spending bill that would have repealed the unjust "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, preventing gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in our military, was filibustered by a slim margin.
For too long, we've been discharging thousands of America's best, brightest and bravest on immoral and unconstitutional grounds. We've held hearings, heard powerful testimony from military leaders, and collected persuasive data from rank and file service members.
It all points to the same conclusion: It's time for Congress to do the right thing and put integrity and national security ahead of petty politics.
Republicans are blocking the current legislation because of the tax issue, so yesterday, Senator Lieberman and I introduced a bipartisan, stand-alone bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and we hope to vote on it once again after the tax issue is dealt with. It's time for an up-or-down vote, and I know we can win.
Passing the DREAM Act
Finally, as you may know, I am a proud co-sponsor of the DREAM Act to allow thousands of young people who were brought to this country when they were just children to gain access to a good education and to be eligible to serve in our Armed Forces.
These students have worked hard and played by the rules. They've only known the United States as home. They deserve the chance to go to college or serve in the military and get on a path to earned legal status.
But once again, progress on a key issue was thwarted by debate over an entirely unrelated deal on taxes. We must do something for the thousands of young people in our country who need our help.
I'll keep fighting to pass the DREAM Act. Again, it's just the right thing to do.
I hope to be in touch soon to report further progress on these efforts. We should not have to wait for tax deals to do what's right.
Sincerely,
Kirsten