Thirty-five years ago today nine men in Washington D.C. opted to give women a choice when it comes to making reproductive decisions about their bodies. As a woman, I'd like to say thanks.

Not one to kick a gift horse in the mouth, I'd like to just ask why it was we needed permission in the first place, because I still haven't figured that one out. Of course, the LGBT community is still trying to figure out why the government is in our bedrooms, dictating who we can love, so maybe the two of us can battle that one out together. But I digress...

Fast forward to 2008 - it's hard to fathom why thousands have been insulted, intimidated, picketed, maimed and even killed by those who wish to take a woman's basic choice away from us. The mere mention of Roe v. Wade often strikes a certain amount of discomfort for many. For others it invokes a sense of justice, and then there are those who are overcome with rage. Clearly it's one of the most publicly tumultuous decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The part that really gets me is that so many of these self-righteous crusaders don't even have a uterus, and probably would have no idea what to do with it should they find themselves with one.

The knowledge of being an owner of an instrument that miraculously produces life is a heavy burden that most young girls are handed early on. For me, it weighs very heavily. As an almost-thirty-something, I still have no idea whether or not I belong bringing a child into this world, whether I have the means to bring them up properly and be the responsible adult that every child needs guiding the way. Without a doubt, it's a deeply personal issue and one that should never be considered lightly.  

But let's forget the politics, the ideology, the drama. Let's remember what it is at the very granular level - a woman's choice, and sometimes, too many times, the very health and life of a woman. Like most women,  I hope to God it's a choice I never have to make, but it's important to me and millions others that the choice is there, and the same for the next generations of women that come after us.

It's an issue of health, of equality, and of civil liberty. Imagine, if women don't have a say over their own bodies, what comes next? What personal right, freedom could you be asked to give up next?

Do you know what all of these have in common? 

Toxic toys, red-leaded steel, counterfeit circuit breakers, poisoned pet food, contaminated human food, the list of things to watch out for, stay away from just keeps growing.

They are all imported items.

They are all things that could be safetly produced by American workers, many of them right here in Michigan where we have such a strong and proud workforce. 

Instead these jobs are outsourced to countries without strong labor, environmental, health, or consumer safety protections. What's wrong with this picture? 

Like all great change that's occured here in Michigan and across our country, it takes motivated people to gather together and say No. 

You can help by joining others in your community and telling your Congressman to stop putting Michigan families at risk and start helping working families.

The United Steelworkers has declared this Wednesday, Jan. 16th as a national day of action. By taking action we can help protect our families, homes, workplaces and communities from toxic imports. 

Find the event in your district and sign up. Men and women from all over the state will visit the district offices of 100 members of Congress to tell them that cheap goods have a high price. On this day, we will demand that they take action. We will put them on notice that our trade laws must champion safety and environmental standards as well as workers' rights. 

Join us! Wednesday, January 16th at the following locations times:

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, 9:00 am - 3rd Street, Suite 203, Muskgeon, MI 49440 (contact: Tonya Devore 616.604.1997)

Rep. David Camp, 4:30 pm, 135 Ashman Dr. Midland, MI 48640 (contact: Tammy Beebe 989.667.0660)

Rep. Thad McCotter, 4:30 pm, 17197 N. LaurelPark Dr., Livonia, MI 48152 (contact: Linda Lucas 248.229.0473)

Rep. Mike Rogers, 1:00 pm, 1327 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 (Contact Ed Leary 231.557.8889)

Rep. Tim Walberg, 4:30 pm, 800 W. Granson, Jackson, MI 49202 (Contact: Jay McMurran: 734.218.4613)

Rep. Fred Upton, 4:30 pm, 157 S. Kalamazoo St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007  (Contact: Sue Browne 269.945.4443 (will meet at 4:00pm to assemble)

Because in the end, cheap goods really do have high costs.