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November 2007
Dear Friend,
As Thanksgiving Day approaches and I end my first year in the United States Senate, I want to wish you a happy and safe holiday and a blessed new year.
One year ago this month, voters in Ohio spoke out with a unified voice for change. For too long, policies set in Washington failed to reflect the needs of middle class families back home.
Last year marked an end to outdated policies and the beginning of a new, forward looking, government with a strong moral vision.
A vision that puts middle class families first.
This year, for the first time in more than a decade, Congress raised the minimum wage. It was a long over due raise for Ohio families. I am proud that we were able to achieve that important goal.
This year, Congress passed potentially life-saving stem cell legislation. We passed legislation that would begin to bring our troops home from Iraq. And we passed legislation that would expand the Children's Health Insurance Program to 79,000 more children in Ohio.
While those pieces of legislation have not yet become law, I will continue working with my Senate colleagues to move these critical issues forward.
It was my great pleasure this year to travel around Ohio and meet with many of you one-on-one to talk about what matters most in your lives.
At 59 roundtables this year I met with veterans and farmers, community leaders and business owners, health care professionals and educators, and workers from a great cross section of Ohio industry.
From Zanesville to Lima, Toledo to Gallipolis, Cleveland to Cincinnati, I was impressed and inspired by the lively conversations and thought-provoking exchange of ideas at each roundtable. The information shared in Ohio went back with me to Washington and became the basis for many of the bills and amendments I introduced this year.
The 2007 Farm Bill includes ideas and input that came directly from Ohioans. Because of you, Ohio farmers will benefit from a stronger safety-net, a greater emphasis for on-farm renewable energy, and higher funding for conservation programs. And because of you, thousands more Ohio families will be able to put food on their tables, including healthy fruits and vegetables.
This year's Department of Defense bill included funding to help rural hospitals that serve Ohio veterans - an idea that came from a veteran in Appalachia.
Talks with economic development leaders led to legislation that would invest in Ohio's manufacturing industry.
And, because of an active Ohio mother concerned about her daughter's college loans - and exorbitant interest rates - I am working with my Senate colleagues to better protect Ohio students from predatory lenders.
It has been my great honor to serve you this year in the United States Senate.
I encourage you to click on the links in this newsletter to connect to my website. It has been designed to serve as a virtual office and to afford you better access to information on issues you care about, on services that are available to you through my office, and to keep you informed about what I'm doing in Congress on your behalf.
I invite you to sign up for newsletters, to visit the website often for new updates, and to send me your thoughts and comments.
Together, we will build a thriving middle class in Ohio and put our great state on the road to a bright and successful future.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
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