If we do not act now to strengthen Social Security, the system that so many depend upon today will be unable to meet its promises to tomorrow's retirees, and it will burden our children and grandchildren with exhaustive taxes.

And I would argue the second greatest force in the universe is ownership.

For far too long, America has been without a comprehensive energy plan, and today consumers are paying the price - literally - at the pump and in their heating bills.

We have so many people retiring that we do not have enough people paying into the system to be able to provide the benefits for those collecting those benefits.

We are a nation that seeks out solutions and refuses to ignore challenges.

By offering individuals ownership and control of their health care coverage, we return control to the patients; and that is exactly where it should be.

I believe it's time to put our best ideas on the table and work toward a bipartisan solution, with the single goal of leaving the Social Security system stronger than we found it.