Children

June 19, 2009 -- ENGLEWOOD – New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today thanked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for the Obama Administration’s commitment of $286 million for New Jersey’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (NJ FamilyCare). The funding is part of $6 billion in new federal funding that resulted from the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) signed by President Obama in February.    » read more »

Grants will help programs from preschool to high school

June 17, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the award of 14 grants totaling $3,404,882 to programs in 11 states that will help American Indian children succeed in school.

“This is an opportunity to assist students who are, as I’ve seen for myself, some of the most motivated in any of our nation’s schools,” said Duncan, who visited the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana last month.

Grants are awarded under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Program to help enhance both preschool preparation for American Indian children and efforts to prepare American Indian high school students transition to and succeed in college or other postsecondary education options.    » read more »

Senator Unveils Plan To Make Quality Child Care Affordable, Accessible

June 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - According to a new report released by U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the cost of child care in New York is rising by $730 per year. County-by-county estimates show that costs are rising across age levels in every corner of the state. In response to the growing costs of child care, Senator Gillibrand today unveiled her plan to make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today granted deferred action for two years to widows and widowers of U.S. citizens—as well as their unmarried children under 18 years old—who reside in the United States and who were married for less than two years prior to their spouse’s death.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- As Congress begins debate on health care reform U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today introduced a Resolution (S.Res.170) calling for health care reform to benefit children and protect Medicaid coverage for the most vulnerable children. The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).    » read more »

House passes two key bills to expand coverage and control health care costs.

June 8, 2009 -- (Salem) – “Today marks a momentous day for Oregonians. With House Bill 2116 and House Bill 2009 this state is among a few others to take meaningful action to address the fundamental problem with our health care system: it costs too much and covers too few.

“House Bill 2116 represents one of the most significant measures before the legislature this session. Three years ago I made it a priority to provide every child in Oregon with access to affordable health care, and with the support of the Oregon House of Representatives we are closer than ever before.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- The first-ever national estimate among a nationally representative sample of U.S. children revealed that 3 out of every 1000 children between the age of 6 and 17 in the United States have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall urged his colleagues to support bipartisan legislation designed to reduce the number of kids who get hooked on smoking, help smokers overcome their addiction, and make tobacco products less toxic.

In a speech submitted for the Congressional Record, Udall said that by preventing new smokers from becoming addicted, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act being debated in the Senate this week would help lower health care costs and promote wellness – two of the biggest hurdles facing the American health care system today.    » read more »

Schumer Pushes Legislation To Prevent Tobacco Companies From Targeting Young Smokers And Require Stringent Warnings On The Dangers Of Cigarettes

June 3, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that, due in part to tobacco ads targeted at minors, 79,800 children from New York State will have their first cigarette this year and 23,900 of them will become regular smokers. In order to combat the problem, Senator Schumer announced that he is pushing legislation, introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy, which has been 15 years in the making, to prevent tobacco companies from targeting underage smokers with advertisements and products.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg, Dick Durbin, Chris Dodd and Jack Reed joined Matt Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, at a press conference this morning to discuss the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The legislation will give the Food and Drug Administration legal authority to regulate the sale, distribution and advertising of cigarettes in order to stop tobacco companies from targeting children and misleading the public.    » read more »

State bill would ban use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles and other feeding devices

June 3, 2009 --
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) commended the California State Senate for passing legislation this week to prohibit the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups and other feeding devices for children ages three and younger. Senator Feinstein today urged the California State Assembly to follow suit.    » read more »

Holds Press Conference to Discuss the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

June 3, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Chairman Edward Kennedy’s chief deputy for health care reform, held a press conference today with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to discuss the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Dodd was also joined by Matt Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.    » read more »

State Agencies Will Collaborate on the Development of a Coordinated Strategy to Eradicate Childhood Exposure to Lead

June 2, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning to further the State’s efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. The Task Force will bring together a variety of State agencies to make findings and recommendations for the development and implementation of a coordinated strategy to reduce childhood exposure to lead.    » read more »

Protects rights of children involved in courts, increases children’s access to health care

June 2, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed legislation to improve the quality of life for Florida’s children. Senate Bill 1018, Guardian Ad Litem, expands the court’s ability to ensure children whose parents are involved in court proceedings have an advocate who will focus on the child’s best interests.

Senate Bill 918, KidCare, increases children’s access to health care by streamlining the Florida KidCare Program. After signing the bills in Tallahassee, Governor Crist will visit children’s hospitals in Tampa and Hollywood to promote the benefits of the legislation.    » read more »

Honors fallen Texas soldiers at Legislative Memorial Ceremony

May 30, 2009 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today signed Senate Bill (SB) 90, authorizing Texas to join the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which helps make school transitions easier for the children of active duty military personnel who move to Texas. The governor also spoke at the Texas Legislative Memorial Ceremony honoring fallen Texas soldiers.    » read more »