A Letter from Hillary's Camp

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, Hillary was on the road last week! She traveled to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq, meeting with Presidents Kharzai of Afghanistan and Musharraf of Pakistan, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi of India, and with Iraqi leaders and American troops, including a number from New York. Speaking in New Delhi, she spoke of the important friendship between our two democracies and ways we can work together

Returning home, Hillary spoke to the Jewish Council for Public Affairs about her trip, about her admiration for the young men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and about other challenges in the region. She condemned the latest terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv as a "despicable act.” “In this critical time,” she said “it is important that we stand by Prime Minister Sharon and the government of Israel as they face the risks and challenges of disengagement...Palestinian President Abbas and his government must do more to combat terrorism.”

Hillary pointed to the dangers posed by other nations seeking to expand their influence, particularly Iran and Syria. She has joined a bipartisan group of senators writing to President Bush urging him to tighten sanctions on Syria, based on the Syria Accountability Act, which she co-sponsored. “We need to send a very clear message that we will not tolerate what we believe to be and have reason to know is the continuing support for terrorism that comes out of Syria and Iran.”

As we encourage the growth of democracy around the world, Hillary said, the United States must set an example of democracy in action here at home. That means respecting the rights of all our citizens, including the precious right to vote, which is why she introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005. It means making decisions about the federal budget according to our priorities, and our values.

Hillary pointed out that the 2006 Bush administration budget represents the worst of both possible worlds: the largest budget deficit in American history and cutbacks in programs that support schools, hospitals, veterans and the environment. She pledged that she would work to protect Medicaid and other necessary programs, and to return to fiscally responsible budgets that will not burden future generations with heavy debts.

Hillary will also speak out on Social Security this week, opposing President Bush’s privatization proposal. Today she will join with Democratic women senators to talk about the importance of Social Security to women. On Friday, she will host a Social Security Forum at Pace University with Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV), Chuck Schumer (NY), Dick Durbin (IL), Byron Dorgan (ND) and John Kerry (MA) to talk about Democrats' commitment to protecting and strengthening Social Security.

Thanks, as always, for being a Friend of Hillary.

Sincerely,

Ann F. Lewis
Director of Communications