Hillary: Fighting for us

Hillary+Clinton+during+the+NH+Democratic+rally+at+Saint+Anselm+College.

Crier\Aidan Denehy

Hillary Clinton during the NH Democratic rally at Saint Anselm College.

Patrick Derenze, Crier Staff

Growing up in New York, Hillary Clinton was difficult to ignore. The First Lady’s decision to run for the Senate in my home state meant that pretty much everyone I knew had an opinion on her. I’m not going to lie, her decision to run was controversial and many at the time disagreed with it. As always though, Hillary showed that she works hard and does not give up. She went on a listening tour to hear the concerns of New Yorkers, and when she was done she put forward real solutions to the issues those in my state were facing. New Yorkers were convinced that she cared deeply about making our state better and rewarded her by electing her to represent us in the Senate. I want to tell you a little about what Hillary accomplished as my Senator, and why I am so excited to elect her as our next President on November 8th.

Hillary was immediately tested when the tragic events on 9/11 changed so many lives in New York forever. As the nation mourned Hillary went to work. Within 48 hours she had legislation signed that gave health benefits to those who risked their lives to save others. By working with a Republican president she was able to secure $20 billion to rebuild New York City. She held the government accountable when they lied to first responders about the quality of the air that our police officers and firefighters were breathing at Ground Zero. Against partisan opposition, Hillary made sure that first responders got the healthcare they needed.

One first responder had this to say about Hillary: ” Hillary Clinton stood with me through that fight and in the darkest of days. In the hardest of times, the people who show up in your life are the ones that mean everything. Hillary showed up.”

Hillary has long been an advocate for women, children, and families. When she was First Lady she pushed through the Children’s Health Insurance Program which today insures 8 million children. This has always been her fight, and that’s exactly what she continued doing in the Senate.

When National Guardsmen serving in our wars abroad returned home they were no longer eligible for military health insurance. Despite accounting for about 40% of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, those in the National Guard were being denied access to healthcare they needed when they got back to the U.S. Hillary created and passed bipartisan legislation that gave National Guard and reservists access to the military’s Tricare health system. Through her work Hillary made sure that so many in our military could get the care they needed.

A big issue hurting many children was the fact that drug companies were not testing how their products might be affecting kids. Children were dying and getting ill because the drugs that doctors were prescribing them had been made for adults, but dosed to kids. This had been an issue Hillary was working on since she was First Lady. So, when she got to the Senate, she authored legislation that required drug companies to test drugs for children before prescribing them to children. She was able to get this passed by working with members of both parties to come to bipartisan solutions.

You can learn a lot about a person by listening to the people who know them best. As a New Yorker I am confident when I say that Hillary Clinton will make an excellent president. I’ve been lucky enough to have had Hillary fighting for me most of my life, whether that be as First Lady, my Senator for eight years, or as our Secretary of State. I can honestly say I am so much better off for having such a strong woman fighting for me, and I cannot wait until she brings her work ethic to the White House.

If you want a president that pays attention to the details that make a difference in people’s lives, who really listens to the problems people bring to their attention, who has made it her career to better the lives women and children all over the world, who is almost over-prepared to be president, and who would bring the perspective of a woman to the Oval Office, then the choice could not be any clearer.

Hillary has been a champion for children, women, and working families her entire life, and she isn’t stopping now. As someone who has been so lucky to have her fighting for me I can say with certainty that Hillary will be an effective and caring president. Please take it from someone who knows her, and use your vote to elect Hillary Clinton president on November 8th.