Former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson from South Dakota

I sent my letter praising U.S. Senator Tim Johnson with how he inspires me to his son who is Former U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson who works at Robin Kaplan law firm in Minnesota so he can forward my letter to his father Senator Tim Johnson

12/29/2015

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson

Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Dear U.S. Senator Johnson,

My name is Matthew Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in studying history and public policy.  In these subjects I like to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to help protect people who are different from being discriminated, have healthcare reform to help people get the medical care they need, protect the environment from pollution, a strong need for job training programs to help train workers or youth to develop job skills to improve the economy, and many others. The main reason I’m writing a letter is because I find your work as Former U.S. House of Representative for South Dakota at-large district and as Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota to be very inspiring to me and your work helped make a great difference for me.

When you served as U.S. House of Representative from South Dakota At-large district, I liked on how you supported the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 to help protect people with disabilities from being discriminated in education and public places.   In the U.S. Senate, I liked on how you worked with moderate Republicans to pass the American Recovery Act, a stimulus package to create job-training programs to help train youth including workers to develop job skills and to help them find a job.  In both of your roles, I was very proud of your commitment to be a strong supporter for Civil Rights, expanding legislation to combat against hate-crime, and pushing for equal pay legislation to help protect minorities, women, people with disabilities, and people with different sexual orientation from discrimination. During the 2010 healthcare debate, I was amazed on how you had the courage to vote and support the Affordable Care Act to help people with pre-existing conditions get coverage they need, allow children to stay on their parent’s health insurance until they turn 26, and ended discrimination for women in insurance.  You had a great record on protecting the environment by getting funds for renewable energy like wind, solar, biofuel, and energy efficient products to reduce addiction to oil with gas and supporting conservation programs to help protect national parks including rivers and lakes from being polluted.

I have Autism with a learning disability and having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects and have trouble with communication. Your support for The American With Disabilities Act of 1990 helped benefit me by helping me get an education and helped expand Civil Rights to protect me from being discriminated. The ADA helped set up accommodations like extra time on exams, have a T.A. or tutor work with me on different subjects, allow different educational software including a recorder to help assist me on improving comprehension along with note-taking. Also the ADA helped me get an education in elementary school through my community college.  In 2009 the American Recovery Act helped me get into a job-training program called the B-side of Arts in Michigan at EMU college of Business. At my job-training program they had lectures about how business works, had classes to help youth including other people learn different job skills, and learned how to work on resumes including practicing job interviews. As a result of the American Recovery Act, I developed job skills and it helped prepare me to get a full-time job.  Your support for The Affordable Care Act helped me stay on my parent’s health insurance until I turn 26 since I’m 25 years old. Without the ACA I would have trouble affording health insurance on my own.

U.S. Senator Johnson, I strongly believe that you made a great difference in your role as U.S. House of Representative of South Dakota At-Large and as three-term U.S. Senator from South Dakota on many issues. I wanted to say thank you for your support on these different legislation because it helped benefit me to develop job-skills for the future, help me get protected from being discriminated based on a disability in education including public places, and assisting me on staying on my parent’s health insurance. You have inspired me to continue learning history, public policy, and even work hard on Autism.  I wish you and your family including your son Brendan Johnson well for the future and for the new year.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference for our country, and inspiring me including supporting legislation to help me.  I hope that you can use this letter including a picture of me to remind yourself on how you made a great difference for me with your achievements. Have a Happy New Year

Sincerely,

Matthew B. Winick