[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 60 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4505-S4507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. Dodd):
  S. 1117. A bill to establish a grant program to provide vision care 
to children, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, children endure a lot. They cannot always 
tell us what's wrong. Often they do not know themselves. So it takes a 
special person to work with young people and help identify their 
problems. Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full 
potential, but it takes more than a book-bag full of pencils, paper, 
books and rulers to equip children with the tools necessary to succeed 
in school.
  The most important tool kids will take to school is their eyes. Good 
vision is critical to learning. 80 percent of what kids learn in their 
early school years is visual. Unfortunately, we overlook that fact 
sometimes. According to the CDC only one in three children receive any 
form of preventive vision care before entering school. That means many 
kids are in school with an undetected vision problem. One in four 
children has a vision problem that can interfere with learning. Some 
children are even labeled ``disruptive'' or thought to have a learning 
disability when the real reason for their difficulty is an undetected 
vision problem.
  Without any vision care, some of our children will continue to fall 
through the cracks. I sympathize with these kids because I suffer from 
permanent vision loss in one eye as a result of undiagnosed Amblyopia 
in childhood. Amblyopia is the number one cause of vision loss in young 
Americans. If discovered and treated early, vision loss from Amblyopia 
can be largely prevented. Had I been identified and treated before I 
entered school, I could have avoided a lifetime of vision loss. Parents 
are not always aware that their child may suffer from a vision problem. 
By educating parents on the importance of vision care and recognizing 
signs of visual impairment we can help children avoid unnecessary 
vision loss.
  To ensure that children get the vital vision care that they need to 
succeed, today Senator Dodd and I are introducing the Vision Care for 
Kids Act which will establish a grant program to compliment and 
encourage existing State efforts to improve children's vision care. 
More specifically, grant funds will be used to: (1) provide 
comprehensive eye exams to children that have been previously 
identified as needing such services; (2) provide treatment or services 
necessary to correct vision problems identified in that eye exam; and 
(3) develop and disseminate educational materials to recognize the 
signs of visual impairment in children

[[Page S4506]]

for parents, teachers, and health care practitioners.
  We need to do this. We must improve vision care for children to 
better equip them to succeed in school and in life. The Vision Care for 
Kids Act, endorsed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American 
Optometric Association, and Vision Council of America, will make a 
difference in the lives of children across the country.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1117

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Vision Care for Kids Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Millions of children in the United States suffer from 
     vision problems, many of which go undetected. Because 
     children with vision problems can struggle developmentally, 
     resulting in physical, emotional, and social consequences, 
     good vision is essential for proper physical development and 
     educational progress.
       (2) Vision problems in children range from common 
     conditions such as refractive errors, amblyopia, strabismus, 
     ocular trauma, and infections, to rare but potentially life- 
     or sight-threatening problems such as retinoblastoma, 
     infantile cataracts, congenital glaucoma, and genetic or 
     metabolic diseases of the eye.
       (3) Since many serious ocular conditions are treatable if 
     identified in the preschool and early school-aged years, 
     early detection provides the best opportunity for effective 
     treatment and can have far-reaching implications for vision.
       (4) Various identification methods, including vision 
     screening and comprehensive eye examinations required by 
     State laws, can be helpful in identifying children needing 
     services. A child identified as needing services through 
     vision screening should receive a comprehensive eye 
     examination followed by subsequent treatment as needed. Any 
     child identified as needing services should have access to 
     subsequent treatment as needed.
       (5) There is a need to increase public awareness about the 
     prevalence and devastating consequences of vision disorders 
     in children and to educate the public and health care 
     providers about the warning signs and symptoms of ocular and 
     vision disorders and the benefits of early detection, 
     evaluation, and treatment.

     SEC. 3. GRANTS REGARDING VISION CARE FOR CHILDREN.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting 
     through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, may award grants to States on the basis of an 
     established review process for the purpose of complementing 
     existing State efforts for--
       (1) providing comprehensive eye examinations by a licensed 
     optometrist or ophthalmologist for children who have been 
     previously identified through a vision screening or eye 
     examination by a licensed health care provider or vision 
     screener as needing such services, with priority given to 
     children who are under the age of 9 years;
       (2) providing treatment or services, subsequent to the 
     examinations described in paragraph (1), necessary to correct 
     vision problems; and
       (3) developing and disseminating, to parents, teachers, and 
     health care practitioners, educational materials on 
     recognizing signs of visual impairment in children.
       (b) Criteria and Coordination.--
       (1) Criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
     appropriate professional and consumer organizations including 
     individuals with knowledge of age appropriate vision 
     services, shall develop criteria--
       (A) governing the operation of the grant program under 
     subsection (a); and
       (B) for the collection of data related to vision assessment 
     and the utilization of follow up services.
       (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall, as appropriate, 
     coordinate the program under subsection (a) with the program 
     under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (relating 
     to health centers) (42 U.S.C. 254b), the program under title 
     XIX of the Social Security Act (relating to the Medicaid 
     program) (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), the program under title 
     XXI of such Act (relating to the State children's health 
     insurance program) (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.), and with other 
     Federal or State programs that provide services to children.
       (c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (a), a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application in such form, made in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Secretary may require, including--
       (1) information on existing Federal, Federal-State, or 
     State-funded children's vision programs;
       (2) a plan for the use of grant funds, including how funds 
     will be used to complement existing State efforts (including 
     possible partnerships with non-profit entities);
       (3) a plan to determine if a grant eligible child has been 
     identified as provided for in subsection (a); and
       (4) a description of how funds will be used to provide 
     items or services, only as a secondary payer--
       (A) for an eligible child, to the extent that the child is 
     not covered for the items or services under any State 
     compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any 
     Federal or State health benefits program; or
       (B) for an eligible child, to the extent that the child 
     receives the items or services from an entity that provides 
     health services on a prepaid basis.
       (d) Evaluations.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     subsection (a), a State shall agree that, not later than 1 
     year after the date on which amounts under the grant are 
     first received by the State, and annually thereafter while 
     receiving amounts under the grant, the State will submit to 
     the Secretary an evaluation of the operations and activities 
     carried out under the grant, including--
       (1) an assessment of the utilization of vision services and 
     the status of children receiving these services as a result 
     of the activities carried out under the grant;
       (2) the collection, analysis, and reporting of children's 
     vision data according to guidelines prescribed by the 
     Secretary; and
       (3) such other information as the Secretary may require.
       (e) Limitations in Expenditure of Grant.--A grant may be 
     made under subsection (a) only if the State involved agrees 
     that the State will not expend more than 20 percent of the 
     amount received under the grant to carry out the purpose 
     described in paragraph (3) of such subsection.
       (f) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     ``comprehensive eye examination'' includes an assessment of a 
     patient's history, general medical observation, external and 
     ophthalmoscopic examination, visual acuity, ocular alignment 
     and motility, refraction, and as appropriate, binocular 
     vision or gross visual fields, performed by an optometrist or 
     an ophthalmologist.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this section, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
     years 2008 through 2012.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today, Senator Bond and I are introducing 
the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2007. This legislation will provide 
follow-up vision care services for those children who have visual 
problems and are not covered under an insurance policy or under any 
Federal, or State health benefits program.
  Why is this legislation needed? Let's look at the facts. According to 
the 2004 Vision Problems Action Plan, published by Prevent Blindness 
America, vision problems affect one in 20 preschoolers and 80 percent 
of children under age six are not screened for vision problems before 
entering public school.
  Perhaps even more startling than the statistics I have just 
mentioned, is that 20 States do not require children to receive any 
vision care prior to entry or during their early school years. Thus, 
millions of children are at risk of having possible vision problems 
later in life.
  I am pleased that my home State of Connecticut provides annual 
screenings to children in kindergarten through grade six. In addition, 
during the ninth grade, each student also receives a vision screening. 
Following the eye tests that are administered in Connecticut's schools, 
the local superintendent sends a note to the parent or guardian of each 
student who is found to have a problem.
  Although Connecticut provides screenings in the early years, it is 
important to note that out of the 467,488 children in Connecticut, 
there are almost 70,000 who have untreated vision disorders, according 
to the most recent Census data. Nationwide, almost 6 million out of 
close to 40 million children have untreated vision disorders. The 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that ``impaired vision 
can affect a child's cognitive, emotional, neurological, and physical 
development.''
  With the introduction of the Vision Care for Kids Act, Senator Bond 
and I are seeking to improve the data I have outlined. When this 
legislation is enacted, the States will have the resources to pay for 
follow-up vision treatment for children who now do not have the 
financial means to undergo this much needed care.
  Our initiative will enable Federal funding to complement existing 
State efforts in regard to: providing comprehensive eye examinations 
for children under age nine; furnishing the necessary treatment or 
services needed if an eye exam determines additional

[[Page S4507]]

care is needed; and developing educational materials for parents, 
teachers, and health care practitioners that will increase recognition 
of the signs of visual impairment in children. The Vision Care for Kids 
Act will serve as an incentive to States to provide eye care to those 
youngsters who are in need of treatment and are currently unable to 
access care.
  This year, we are working on the reauthorization of the State 
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP was created to 
provide health care to millions of children who were previously 
uninsured. Over the last ten years, we have seen the positive impact of 
this essential program. Passage of the Vision Care for Kids Act will be 
a key component of ensuring that we have a comprehensive children's 
health care delivery system in this country. I look forward to working 
with Senator Bond and my colleagues to see that this legislation is not 
only is not only passed by this body soon, but that it is signed into 
law.
                                 ______