We would like to extend our thanks to the hundreds of Representatives and Senators who voted to carry out the promise of true change that so many of us voted for in November. The final budget resolution, passed last night in the House and Senate, represents a foundation for moving forward with legislation that supports the goals laid out by President Obama’s budget: providing quality health care for all Americans, investing in clean energy and making education more affordable and accessible.

Finally, we have a Congress in power that realizes fixing this economy means addressing the fundamental problems that got us here in the first place and building a foundation for long-term growth and prosperity – from the ground up.

The budget resolution agreed upon by the House and the Senate preserves the President’s priorities to ensure a sound and swift economic recovery – while still cutting the deficit substantially. It also includes reconciliation instructions that will protect health care reform and education from a minority block in the Senate.

If young people are negatively impacted by our nation’s economic crisis, young people of color and those with limited access to resources are hit especially hard. We are extremely pleased that Congress has taken this much-needed step to make dramatic investments in these communities so that everyone has equal access to affordable health care, higher education, and the new jobs that come from greening our economy.

Members of Congress from every corner of America came together to pass the budget resolution, yet none of them were Republicans. In this economic crisis, we cannot afford more partisan bickering. It’s time we all come together to solve our nation’s problems.

The new budget is the first step, now we must seize the economic opportunity we have to invest in smart choices for our future.

As President Obama noted yesterday in the press conference marking his 100 days in office, “I think we’re off to a good start, but it’s just a start”.