[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4675-S4676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    THE STATE OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, today, the Children's Defense Fund, a 
wonderful organization--and thank God there is such an organization 
with a strong voice for children--has issued a report, ``The State of 
America's Children.''
  I would, for my State of Minnesota, like to release some statistics 
from this report on the floor of the Senate and then I would like to 
talk about what these statistics mean in personal terms for my State 
and for the politics of the country for this Congress.
  Minnesota's children at risk--this report was issued today by the 
Children's Defense Fund: 60,615 children lacked health insurance in the 
years 1989 to 1991--over 60,000 children lacking health insurance; 
27,462 reported cases of child abuse and neglect, 1992--27,462 reported 
cases; 116 young men died by violence, 1991; 48 children were killed by 
guns, 1992.
  Only 71.4 percent of 2-year-olds were fully immunized, 1990--30 
percent of children not fully immunized. This is my State of Minnesota 
and, in my humble opinion, that is the greatest State in the country; 
35 percent of 4th grade public school students lacked basic reading 
proficiency, 1992.
  Those are Minnesota's children at risk.
  Mr. President, on the back of this report released today by the 
Children's Defense Fund, there are the following statistics, which I 
have read on the floor of the Senate before, but this is a new report, 
new data:
  Every day in America, three children die from child abuse.
  Every day in America, 15 children die from guns.
  Every day in America, 27 children--a classroomful--die from poverty.
  Every day in America, 95 babies die before their first birthday.
  Every day in America, 564 babies are born to women who had late or no 
prenatal care.
  [[Page S4676]] Every day in America, 788 babies are born at low 
birthweight, less than 5 pounds 8 ounces.
  Every day in America, 1,340 teenagers give birth.
  Every day in America, 2,217 teenagers drop out of school--each day.
  Every day in America, 2,350 children are in adult jails.
  Every day in America, 2,699 infants are born into poverty.
  Every day in America, 3,356 babies are born to unmarried women.
  Every day in America, 8,189 children are reported abused or 
neglected.
  Every day in America, 100,000 children are homeless.
  Every day in America 135,000 children bring guns to school.
  Every day in America, 1.2 million latchkey children come home to a 
house in which there is a gun.
  Mr. President, I would like to, from this Children's Defense Fund 
report that came out today on the state of America's children, talk 
about what this means with Minnesota children at risk.

       A Nation that would rather send someone else's child to 
     prison for $15,496 a year, or to an orphanage for over 
     $36,000 a year, then invest in $300,000 worth of immunization 
     and $100,000 worth of prenatal care to give a child a healthy 
     start, $1,800 to give that child a summer job to learn a work 
     ethic, lacks both family values and common and economic 
     sense.

  Mr. President, let me just add that as long as we are going to be 
talking about a budget deficit and addressing that budget deficit, I 
think it is time that we also address a spiritual deficit in our 
Nation. I have brought an amendment to the floor of the U.S. Senate 
four times which has been defeated. I will bring it back on the floor 
this week, especially with the rescissions bill over here.
  I commend Senator Hatfield, and others, for their fine work in at 
least restoring some of the cuts for some programs that are so 
important. I know that I met with citizens back in Minnesota about cuts 
to the Low Energy Assistance Program. In my State of Minnesota, over 
100,000 households, 300,000 individuals, I say to my colleagues, 30 
percent elderly, members of household, 40 percent child, over 50 
percent someone working; this was a grant of about $350 that enabled 
somebody to get over a tough time, with 40 percent using it only 1 
year. People were terrified. I will thank Senator Hatfield and others 
for not zeroing out that program.
  As I look at these cuts that are before us, Mr. President, I would 
like to raise some questions not about the budget deficit but about the 
spiritual deficit. Minnesota children at risk. I will have this 
amendment on the floor and I will ask one more time for my colleagues 
to go on record that we will not pass any legislation, take any action 
that would increase the number of hungry or homeless children in 
America. That amendment has failed in four separate votes, though the 
support for the amendment is going up; the last time it received 47 
votes.
  Mr. President, I want to ask the following question: Who decides that 
we are going to cut child nutrition programs but not subsidies for oil 
companies? Who decides that we are going to cut the Headstart Program 
but not subsidies for insurance companies? Who decides that we are 
going to cut child care programs but not tobacco company subsidies? Who 
decides, Mr. President, that we are going to cut educational programs 
for children, but not military contractors?
  Mr. President, some people are very generous with the suffering of 
others. And it is time that we understand that we should not be making 
budget cuts based on the path of least political resistance, making 
cuts that affect citizens with the least amount of clout that are not 
the heavy hitters and do not have the lobbyists.
  There needs to be a standard of fairness. I will insist on that 
during this debate. Mr. President, if you will allow me 15 seconds for 
a conclusion, over and over again on the floor of the U.S. Senate, I 
will, if you will, shout it from the mountain top. There will not be 
any real national security for our Nation until we invest in the health 
and the skills and the intellect and the character of our children. 
That is what this debate is about.
  I thank the Chair and I thank my colleagues for their generosity and 
graciousness.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia is recognized to 
speak for up to 15 minutes.

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