At a time when real unemployment remains much too high, we need a budget that creates millions of decent paying jobs.

At a time when our infrastructure is collapsing, we need a budget that rebuilds our crumbling roads, bridges, dams, levees, water systems, waste water plants, airports, and rail systems.

At a time when real median family income has declined by nearly $5,000 since 1999, and millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, we need a budget that substantially increases wages for low and middle-income workers.

At a time when the United States is engaged in an extremely competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world and a budget that makes certain that every American can get a higher education without incurring debt.

At a time when we have the highest rate of childhood poverty in the industrialized world and when millions of seniors and disabled people are struggling to put food on the table, we need to strengthen Social Security and the safety net – not cut programs for the most vulnerable people in our country.

At a time when our trade deficit is much too high, we need a budget that demands that corporate America creates jobs in this country, and not in China and other low-wage countries.