HRC Email - Update: Our fight for women's health

[mrs_p]

Now for a real issue. An email from Hillary (my first ever, actually!):

Dear (me),

Together, you and I are standing up for the health of American women, and we're making a difference.

For years, President Bush and the Republicans have done everything in their power to reverse decades of progress. Now, new rules are under consideration by the administration that would restrict access to birth control. They are the latest example and I am so glad that you joined the fight to help stop it.

Thank you so much for signing on to our letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. More than 55,000 of you have urged him not to move forward with these restrictive new regulations. That's an amazing start, and I urge you to ask your friends and family to get involved. Forward this message and tell them to sign on to the letter at:

http://www.hillpac.com/action/hhspetition/

Let me tell you more about the progress we're making. I have been working with my colleague Senator Patty Murray of Washington in the Senate and Congresswoman Nita Lowey of New York -- and many Senators and House Representatives who have joined in writing to Mike Leavitt, also demanding that he not move forward with these regulations. We are also working closely with women's rights and health organizations to put pressure on the administration and their Republican allies in Congress.

Secretary Leavitt stated on the HHS website just recently that he was still considering whether to go forward with these new rules and acknowledged concerns about limiting access to birth control. This means we are making a difference but we can't stop now! So long as these regulations are under consideration, there is a danger to women's health. I am going to continue to monitor this situation very closely and I need your continued support. Your help is vital, so be sure to tell your friends and family to join this fight.

Thank you so much for joining this important effort.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

edit - though i live in colorado now, washington is my home and i'm so proud of sen. murray.