Children

October 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, applauded the move by the Finance Committee to prevent an effort to dismantle the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Preserving the program and protecting children in the health care reform debate has been one of Senator Casey’s top priorities.    » read more »

Net Increase of Nearly 100,000 Children; New Jersey Awarded $2 Million to Expand FamilyCare Enrollment

October 1, 2009 -- TRENTON - Corzine Administration officials today announced that the NJ FamilyCare program hit a landmark milestone of nearly 100,000 new children enrolled since January 2006. As a result of the first-in-the-nation Express Lane Eligibility initiative, the elimination of premiums for some working families, and a broadcast media campaign, more than 12,000 children have been enrolled in NJ FamilyCare since June 2009.    » read more »

New Jersey First State to a Launch 'Promise Communities' Initiative in Pilot Cities of Newark and Camden; Newark National Pilot Site for ‘Bold Approach' Initiative Using Private Funds

September 28, 2009 -- NEWARK -- New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today unveiled two new initiatives aimed at strengthening school and community programming for children at-risk of being recruited and victimized by violent street gangs. The programs - ‘Promise Communities' and ‘Bold Approach' - are designed to keep children in school and on a path to college and a career.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised progress made by Congress today as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), HR 3221, passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill would move away from subsidizing private lenders to a direct loan program and reinvest nearly $90 billion in savings over the next 10 years into several initiatives, including the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which will be jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.    » read more »

Focusing On Improving Child And Family Safety, Expanding Health Coverage And Promoting Hospital Accountability; Vetoes 18 Bills Representing $28 Million in Savings Over Next Two Years

September 17, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today signed 60 bills that together will improve the safety of families and children; increase access to, and quality of, health care for New Yorkers; and increase accountability among government contractors. Additionally, he vetoed 18 bills that, if signed, would have cost State taxpayers $28 million dollars over the next two years.    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- TRENTON - As part of Minority and Multicultural Health Month, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine held a teleconference call today with leaders of community groups, health centers and faith-based groups that serve minority and multicultural populations to discuss efforts to enroll more children in NJ FamilyCare and to reduce health disparities.

"Access to routine and preventive health care is essential to the health of New Jersey's minority populations. As a result of our efforts over the past two years, we have increased the number of insured in New Jersey, but we must redouble our efforts to ensure that teachers, parents, faith-based leaders and child care centers know about NJ FamilyCare," Governor Corzine said.    » read more »

Team Nutrition Initiative Helps Combat Childhood Obesity, Promote Physical Activity to Enable Better Future for Nation's Youth

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2009 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded approximately $5.8 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to 18 states to help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles. This funding provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and parents as well as technical assistance for communities and school food service providers.    » read more »

Focusing On Protecting Children And Families, Encouraging Economic And Job Development; Vetoes 14 Bills Representing More than $5.4 Million in Savings for 2009-10

August 27, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson this week signed a total 68 bills that together will lead to economic and job development opportunities for New Yorkers; keep children and families safer; and ensure that the State’s roads are more secure. Additionally, he vetoed 14 bills that, if signed, would have cost taxpayers some $5.4 million dollars.    » read more »

HB 139 would allow health care coverage of all kids at no cost to state; HB 199 would provide developmental screenings for infants and toddlers

August 27, 2009 -- NEWARK – Delaware children now have better access to health care after Governor Jack Markell signed two bills into law on Thursday that expand the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and provide developmental screenings for infants and toddlers.

“I am delighted to be signing legislation that will make Delaware’s children healthier,” Governor Markell said. “These initiatives are creative ways to improve health care for children without increasing the costs to taxpayers.”    » read more »

Applauds committee passage of bill to protect military families from being cut out of critical child and maternal nutrition programs

July 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee included legislation that would protect military families and kids from being cut out of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and child nutrition programs in its Agriculture Appropriations.    » read more »

Passage of the DREAM Act will allow next generation of leaders to achieve their own American dream

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC --Today, with the U.S. Capitol's Statue of Freedom reaching to the sky behind them, more than 500 students from across the country took part in a symbolic graduation ceremony to urge Congress to support our nation's future leaders by passing the DREAM Act. The National DREAM Graduation ceremony was hosted by labor organizations like SEIU, education, faith, business, immigrant and civil rights groups through the United We Dream Coalition.    » read more »

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Boost Program that Helps Law Enforcement Quickly Find Missing Persons

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and 10 other Senators in introducing legislation (S. 1301) that would make a federal investment in an effective program that assists law enforcement efforts to locating missing persons quickly.    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that $6 billion in new federal funds will be made available to states and U.S. territories for fiscal year 2009 to provide health care to millions of children across America through their Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

The new funds for CHIP were made available by the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 4. CHIPRA provides additional funding that will help states and territories maintain existing CHIP enrollment and expand their programs.    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today spoke on the Senate floor about health care reform and the need to ensure that no child is worse off as a result of this legislation. Senator Casey’s full remarks are below.

Statement of U.S. Senator Bob Casey
June 19, 2009

Now we're at the point where the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is voting on amendments. We know that this is a challenge that has faced America for decades - the challenge of covering people in our country who don't have coverage, and making sure that those who do have coverage have quality health care coverage that's affordable.    » read more »

June 20, 2009 -- BRYN MAWR – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today met with families in southeastern Pennsylvania to discuss what is at stake in the proposed state budget as it relates to autism services. An estimated 25,000 Pennsylvania children and adults live with an autism spectrum disorder.

“Pennsylvania has worked hard and made great progress for families who rely on services that their children need,” said Governor Rendell during an event at Bryn Mawr College. “Funding for these services is now being threatened. The budget proposed by Senate Republicans would cut funding for autism by nearly $8 million, which means cutting services and support to nearly 250 families.”    » read more »