Sen. Biden believes the path to protect jobs and compete in a global economy is to first address energy security and health care.

Directly from the candidate:

To protect jobs, compete in a global economy and strengthen families Joe Biden believes the next President must first address two things: energy security and health care. This is not our father's economy - America now competes in a global economy. The price of energy is set by the global marketplace. Developing our own sources of energy aren't enough to protect us from high prices that cost businesses and families -- we must invest in using energy more efficiently and become the leader in energy innovation. By 2008, the average Fortune 500 company will spend as much on health care as it will make in profit. In other countries their competitors will not have to bear these costs. Joe Biden believes America will continue to dominate the global economy by putting energy security and health care reform at the top of the agenda.