Tonight, President Bush will address the nation and lay out his plans for the coming year, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

I have great expectations for the new Congress. On critical issues from Iraq to energy independence, I believe it is time to take America in a new direction. That’s what I hope to hear from President Bush tonight. Helping deliver that new direction is what I will focus on this year.

I believe we must begin by changing the course in Iraq. I oppose the president’s escalation of the conflict by sending troops overseas. The United States cannot have an open-ended commitment in Iraq. The president needs to be accountable for turning security over to the Iraqis, pressing them for a political solution and passage of an oil law, and building an international consensus to stabilize Iraq and the region.

But our policies in Iraq are not the only changes I am determined to see.

One of my top priorities is a new strategy for our nation’s energy future. We cannot ignore the enormous cost of America’s dependence on fossil fuels and its impact on our nation’s economic, environmental and national security. We face a crisis, and we must act decisively by finding new ways to fuel our cars, power our industries and light up our homes.

No single solution will put all of our energy concerns to rest, but we need to begin now. We must level the playing field for renewable energy sources and efficient technologies, dramatically increase our domestic production of biofuels and improve fuel economy standards. We must ensure that oil and gas companies pay their fair share in taxes and in royalties owed to the American public for the use of our public lands. And we must act to protect consumers from gas price spikes and really begin to tackle climate change.

Fortunately, America possesses tremendous brainpower, can-do spirit and entrepreneurial drive and with the right priorities we can create a cleaner, smarter, more efficient and diverse 21st-century energy system.

I also believe we can make education and lifelong learning affordable for everyone. As the first in my family to graduate from college, I know what a difference financial assistance makes to getting a good education.

By increasing the amount of the Pell Grant for students, helping families save for college by increasing how much they can save and take as a tax deduction, creating savings accounts to help with lifelong learning so Americans can go back to school for new skills – we can help make the dream of a quality education a reality for everyone.

I will work this year to make sure Medicare Part D negotiates for lower drug prices and that the program works for seniors, not for the pharmaceutical companies. We can make health care more affordable and more accessible for everyone. We’ll work on the Medicare physician reimbursement rate, increase the SCHIP program to help get more Washington state children health care, and we’ll fight to increase rural access to affordable care. No Washingtonian should have to choose between getting a prescription refilled or visiting a doctor and other basic costs of living.

These are all big goals, but I believe the policies we choose to support reflect our priorities as a nation. I believe we have a responsibility to stand up and fight for something better than the status quo.

I hope tonight that the president will speak to these and other issues that are so critical for America’s hard- working families. I hope he will commit to work with Congress to accomplish these goals. To make a real difference, we have to find common ground and get to work.