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| Wilson Urges Appropriations Subcommittee to Fund Key Health Care and Education Programs |
May 16, 2002 |
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WASHINGTON, DC-Congresswoman Heather Wilson spoke today before the House Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee to highlight the need for funding key education programs outlined in the “No Child Left Behind Act” and for preventative health education.
Both diabetes and heart disease are rising problems for women’s health. Yet preventative measures are available to delay the onset and help reduce the mortality rate for these diseases. Wilson pointed to the need to step-up public education on ways to prevent such devastating illnesses.
“The last decade has seen major strides made to improve women’s health and America’s federal research dollars play a leading role in new technologies and research detection, treatment and prevention and yet many women are suffering from preventable diseases,” said Wilson. “Prevention programs that screen and educate women about their risk and what they can do to help themselves is one of the best life saving and money saving investments we can make with federal dollars.”
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women. Combined with deaths from stroke, 512,000 American women die each year from cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease kills more women each year than the next 9 causes of death combined. Despite these alarming statistics, fewer than 1 in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. We need to work harder to make women aware of the risks of heart disease and prevention techniques that will save their lives.
On the issue of diabetes, Wilson again stressed the need for prevention especially in Hispanic and Native American populations as well as children. Currently, 10.2 percent of all Hispanic Americans have diabetes, while only 6.2 percent of the population in the United States have diabetes. Data from the Navajo Health and Nutrition Survey, published in 1997, showed that 22.9 percent of Navajo had diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is a relatively new phenomenon, and accurate statistics regarding the number of cases have not been generated. However, recent reports indicate that 8-45 percent of children with newly diagnosed diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.
Wilson addressed the committee on the need to fund critical education programs such as Math and Science Partnerships, Early Reading Programs, support for quality child care, and funding for charter schools.
“Education is my personal passion and the main reason I entered public service,” said Wilson. “We must do all we can to give every child in America the best education possible. The No Child Left Behind legislation will do more for strengthening our education system than any legislation in recent memory. But we need to support all of the programs authorized under that bill.”
The careers of the future will require a greater understanding of rapidly changing technology. Strong math and science education is crucial for today’s students to succeed in that world. Our country cannot expect to have the leading economy or lead the world in technology development without the best educated engineers, scientists and innovators.
Early Reading programs deserve more attention and support. Early reading scores are some of the best indicators for later success in school and lifelong career success. With the foundation of good reading skills, we can expect to raise the performance of a whole generation of children
Charter schools can offer parents the most choice and individual academic program their children need. Unfortunately there are many financial and administrative barriers to charter schools that have prevented their growth despite parental demand. Charter schools are public schools, yet few receive public funding for their facilities costs. Charter schools lack the access to facilities financing that is available to traditional public schools.
Wilson also urged the committee to approve loan forgiveness for child care providers. Authorized under the Higher Education Act amendments of 1998, the loan forgiveness for child care providers program aims to retain and encourage more highly trained individuals to enter into the early child care profession. Under this program, borrowers who have earned a degree in early childhood education, and work for 2 full years as a child care provider in a low-income community, may have a portion of their loan obligation forgiven.
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