At the 2005 national conversation in Columbus, Ohio, DLC Chair Gov. Tom Vilsack asked Sen. Hillary Clinton to lead a year-long project to shape an economic opportunity agenda for the country. Over the past year, the American Dream Initiative has engaged political, business, labor, civic, and intellectual leaders in an effort to address the central economic challenge of our time -- saving the American Dream.

The recommendations of this Initiative, presented at the DLC's 2006 National Conversation in Denver, Colo., are the work of many of the brightest leaders and thinkers in the Democratic Party and the country. Under the leadership of Sen. Clinton, DLC Vice Chair Sen. Tom Carper, and Gov. Vilsack, a broad and unprecedented coalition of progressive think tanks took part in developing this agenda: the Democratic Leadership Council, the Progressive Policy Institute, the Center for American Progress, NDN, and Third Way. In addition, this coalition solicited input from other groups focused on the future of the American Dream, including Hope Street Group, a nonpartisan public policy network of private-sector professionals.

Over the past six years, America has seen far too much politics and far too few ideas. When our leaders fail to provide an opportunity agenda, the whole country pays the price, from businesses struggling to create good jobs to the hard-working American middle class struggling to provide a better life for their children.

The American Dream Initiative is a challenge to the nation to remember what too many of our current leaders forgot. America's strength in the century to come rests on the strength of the dream that got us this far. America will be a richer, safer, smarter, and stronger nation when everyone willing to work for it has the chance to get ahead.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
New York
American Dream Initiative Chair

Gov. Tom Vilsack
Iowa
DLC Chair

Sen. Tom Carper
Delaware
DLC Vice Chair