[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 126 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CHILDREN'S VISION AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 25, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Children's Vision 
Awareness Day. Vision Services Plan, which is headquartered in 
Sacramento, California, has joined forces with several non-profit 
organizations to develop the Sight for Students program. This 
charitable program is designed specifically to help children in need of 
vital eyecare services. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of 
Vision Services Plan and their tireless work and determination to bring 
proper vision care to our nation's underprivileged children.
  Whereas, our children represent the future of this great nation and 
deserve every opportunity to succeed in the classroom, at play and life 
in general;
  Whereas according to the United States Center for Health Statistics, 
only 14 percent of children in the United States under the age of 6 
receive an eye exam;
  Whereas vision problems affect one in four school-age children, 
according to Prevent Blindness America;
  Whereas untreated eye problems can affect leaming ability, adjustment 
in school, athletic ability and self-esteem;
  Whereas Vision Services Plan which has their headquarters in 
Sacramento, California has a Sight for Student's Program to help low-
income, uninsured children obtain the proper vision care that they so 
greatly need;
  Whereas the Sight for Students program covers the cost of an eye 
examination and glasses or medically necessary contact lenses as well 
as vision therapy and treatment.
  Whereas numerous community agencies, such as America's Promise, 
Prevent Blindness America, Head Start, the Boys and Girls Clubs of 
America and Communities in School, have joined forces with Vision 
Services Plan to address this issue;
  Whereas these many partners have come together to hold vision 
awareness events across the country on September 26, 2001, National 
Children's Vision Awareness Day.
  Since 1997 Vision Services Plan and the Sight for Students program 
have provided free eye exams and eyewear to nearly 90,000 children 
across the nation who would not otherwise have access to these 
services. I applaud their efforts and I am proud to lend my support to 
this program.

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