[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN

  Mr. FRIST. Amidst all of the proposals and discussions and objections 
and debate that has gone on here on the floor, I rise to talk about a 
bill that has been very positive, which demonstrates the best of what 
this body is all about--a pulling together and working together across 
the aisle in a bipartisan way, all with the goal of making others' 
lives more fulfilling, both in the current generation and in future 
generations. This week, the U.S. Congress has sent to the President of 
the United States for his signing a comprehensive bill that very much 
forms the backbone of efforts to improve the safety and health of 
America's children.
  This bill that has been sent to the President focuses on our 
children's health, the Children's Health Act of 2000. It was more than 
a year ago that Senator Jim Jeffords and I reached out across the 
Capitol to Chairman Bliley and Representative Bilirakis to work 
together in a coordinated way on a whole variety of issues and bills 
that are critical to children's health and safety. These included such 
issues as maternal and infant health, day-care safety, pediatric 
research, pediatric health promotion, and efforts to fight drug abuse 
and provide mental health services for young people today. I am 
delighted that both the House and the Senate have passed this bill, 
that it has been sent to the President, and that we were successful in 
achieving our goal.
  The bill addresses a range of issues. Just to give some flavor of 
this bill and what it can achieve, what it will achieve, what it does 
achieve in its language, let me comment on a few.
  Day-care safety. Currently, there are more than 13 million children 6 
years of age and less who are enrolled in day-care centers. Almost a 
quarter of a million are in Tennessee. One provision in this bill, the 
Day-Care Safety Act, recognizes the need to make these settings safer, 
improving the health and public welfare of children in day care. 
Parents should simply not be afraid to leave their children in the 
morning when they drop them off in these day-care settings, fearing 
that a licensed day-care facility is not safe over the course of that 
day. This bill helps ensure that our childcare centers will be safer.
  Secondly, children's health. Provisions included in this bill, the 
Children's Public Health Act of 2000, some of which were introduced 
July 13 of this past year--that I introduced with Senators Jeffords and 
Kennedy--address a number of children's health issues, including 
maternal and pediatric health promotion and research.
  Thirdly, traumatic brain injury. Traumatic injuries are the leading 
cause of death for every age group between 1 and 19 years of age. This 
bill strengthens the traumatic brain injury programs at the CDC, the 
National Institutes of Health, and the Health Resources and Services 
Administration.
  Fourth, birth defects: Birth defects are the leading cause of infant 
mortality and are responsible for about 30 percent of all pediatric 
admissions.
  This bill focuses on maternal and infant health. The legislation 
establishes a national center for birth defects and developmental 
disabilities at the CDC, the purpose of which is to collect and analyze 
and distribute data on birth defects.
  Fifth, asthma. The bill combats some of the most common challenges, 
problems, and public health issues in children today. In terms of 
asthma, it provides comprehensive asthma services and coordinates a 
wide range of asthma prevention programs in the Federal Government to 
address this most common chronic childhood disease.
  Mr. President, I am delighted that this bill has passed both of these 
bodies with this body working together in a bipartisan way.
  I understand that we are about ready to begin on the conference 
report. Therefore, I will terminate my comments at this point, and 
later in the day, during morning business, will extend my comments on 
this very important bill.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. FRIST). The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I will continue to work on this with Senator 
McCain. I understand other Senators are coming to the floor to discuss 
the issues with him.

                          ____________________