Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger from Minnesota

2/17/2017

U.S. Senator David Durenberger

9 Crocus Hill

St Paul, MN  55102

Dear U.S. Senator Durenberger,

My name is Matthew Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history with pubic policy. In these subjects, I like to learn the need to make Civil Rights stronger, protect the environment from pollution, and many others.  U.S. Senator Durenberger, I’m writing you a letter is because I find your work as former U.S. Senator from Minnesota to be very inspiring to me and giving you a story about me working hard on my disability where I dedicate you including many individuals who inspire me or make an impact on me called “The Kid With No Words”.

When you served as U.S. Senator from Minnesota from 1978-1994, I was very proud on how you were a moderate Republican when your own party got too extreme on different issues. On Civil Rights, I liked on how you were a strong supporter of protecting women, minorities, and people with disabilities from being discriminated in education and public places.  Also on Civil Rights, I was very proud on how you supported the Americans With Disabilities’ Act of 1990 along with Democrats including moderate Republicans to help protect people with disabilities from being discriminated in education with public places, pushed for funding in women including minorities businesses to help them compete in the economy, push for voting rights to help people with disabilities or who are handicapped from being discriminated in voting places, and support Civil Rights Act of 1990 to help protect people who are different including women from bing discriminated in jobs. Supporting funding renewable energy sources to reduce addiction to oil with gas, pushing for the Safe Drinking Water Act to help protect water resources from being polluted, voting for the Clean Air Act of 1990 to help reduce air pollution by requiring companies to burn clean fuel, and expanding funds for alternative fuel for vehicles to reduce co2 emissions are great ways to protect the environment from pollution.  On healthcare, I was very proud on how you had the courage as a moderate Republican to support the idea of universal healthcare to help people with pre-existing conditions get the medical care they need when your own party didn’t support it, support Children Health Insurance Act to help children get medical care they need including expand series to help children who struggle with a pre-existing conditions, and pushed for funding to help fund research to improve women’s health.   When you also served in the U.S. Senate, I was very proud on how you were a moderate Republican when you broke with your own party when they were too extreme.   After you left the U.S. Senate, I liked on how you continue to advocate for the need for universal healthcare, express the need to make Civil  Rights stronger,  better environmental protection, and many others when both political parties aren’t advocates of these common sense ideas.  Another thing is was amazed when you decided to endorse President Obama because I liked on how you agreed with him on the need to make Civil Rights stronger along with improve healthcare.

U.S. Senator Durenberger, I have Autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased.  The ADA of 1990 that you supported helped benefit me to get an education and to be protected from being discriminated. In education, the ADA of 1990 helped me get an education elementary school through my community college by having accommodations like extra time on exams, have a T.A. or a tutor work with me on learning different subjects, have educational software or a recorder to help improve comprehension along with improve on note-taking, special education system along with learning support services to help provide accommodations for me, and many others.  This act resulted in me getting an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts in May 2014 at Washtenaw Community College.  My main focus in Liberal Arts is history, government, some businesses, criminal justice, and some science.  After you left the U.S. Senate, I liked on how you continue to advocate for the need for universal healthcare, the need for better environmental protection, express the need to make Civil Rights stronger, and many others when the GOP or other political parties aren’t advocates of these common sense ideas. Another thing is I was amazed on how you had the courage to endorse Barack Obama when he was running for President in 2008 Presidential election and how you give President Obama on advice to help improve healthcare reform.  Another thing is your role as U.S. Senator from Minnesota motivates me to continue to learn history including public policy. My future goal is to someday work in these areas to help create common sense ideas to make society a better place, continue to learn how social justice can make a great impact, and many others.   

U.S. Senator Durenberger, I strongly believe that you made a great difference when you served in the U.S. Senate. Also I’m very proud on how you worked hard on making Civil rights stronger, work with both political parties to push for the ADA of 1990, protecting the environment, and supporting health care reform. You have inspired me to work hard on my disability, continue my interest in learning history with public policy, and benefit from the ADA of 1990.  Here is a picture of me and my story about working hard on my disability called The Kid With No Words where I dedicate you and many individuals for inspiring me. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, making great achievements, and inspiring me. I wish you well for the future and to continue to advocate for great ideas.

Sincerely,

Matthew B. Winick