Keeping Momentum

07/28/2005

Dear Dear DFL Member and Supporter,,

As the Senate is preparing for confirmation hearings on the new Supreme Court nominee and the upcoming recess, Hillary is working hard to keep our momentum on health care reform. Already this year we have four major accomplishments and even Newt Gingrich was speaking of Hillary’s health technology legislation as a “major breakthrough.”

The Associated Press reported:

Gingrich said he now supports a key proposal that Mrs. Clinton had offered more than a decade ago, when she proposed creating a single system for medical billing so that all insurers and providers would be able to use similar procedures and save time.

She compared it to the bar codes on food packages that allow grocery store clerks to quickly scan them for a price.

“I thought this was a no-brainer,” Clinton said. “This one thing ignited an incredible reaction.”

From incredible reaction to bipartisan cooperation: The Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee has unanimously approved the Wired for Health Care Quality Bill Act, co-sponsored by Hillary with Senators Bill Frist (R-TN), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to increase the use of electronic health records and create standards for health information technology—as Hillary said, “a critical first step to marrying quality and technology to improve patient care in America.”

Heath care for members of the National Guard and Reserve: Last week the Senate unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Hillary and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to expand access to health care benefits of the National Guard and Reserve, “...an important step towards easing the burden on members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families,” Hillary said.

Important victories for women’s health: The Senate agreed to the Clinton-Chafee (R-RI) amendment directing funding to United Nations Population Fund projects in 150 countries, including programs for safe childbirth and maternal health care, preventing and treating obstetric fistula, and making contraceptives available. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration agreed to reach a decision on making emergency contraception available over-the-counter by September 1, so Hillary and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) lifted their hold on the nomination of the FDA Administrator.

Children’s Health continues to be a priority: Speaking at the 2005 National Council of La Raza Annual Conference, Hillary announced she would be introducing new legislation to protect children’s health: the Family Asthma Act and the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit. “Every child deserves to grow up in a clean, healthy home environment,” she said. And she joined Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jim Jeffords (I-VT) to introduce the Kids Safe Chemicals Act of 2005 to create a non-toxic environment by requiring the testing of chemicals in daily use.

With her work on health care, keeping children safe, and keeping our country strong, Hillary continues to make a difference. I hope you’re enjoying your summer, and thanks, as always, for being a Friend of Hillary!

Sincerely,

Ann Lewis