Today, I introduced legislation that would establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters, which would be modeled after the 9/11 Commission. The Commission will examine, assess and report on the facts and causes relating to the needs of children during and after all hazards, disasters and emergencies.

Indeed, Hurricane Katrina exposed gaps in our emergency management response and recovery—and it is especially true with regard to children. Children are not little adults, since their needs are unique and cannot be easily inferred from emergency plans for adults. Congress must identify and invest in preparedness, response and recovery plans for children.

H.R. 3495 would also establish a National Resource Center on Children and Disasters (NRCCD) at the Department of Health and Human Services. The NRCCD would be a resource for Federal, State, local and tribal governments on issues in relation to the needs of children during and after all hazards, disasters and emergencies.

On the sixth anniversary of the September 11th attacks the federal government is still without a national agency in the United States with a clear mandate to safeguard children before, during and after disasters. The KIDS WiSH Act will provide be a resource for emergency managers to meet the unique needs for safety, protection and recovery during emergencies for children.

In fact, the Senate has already introduced companion legislation, and there are numerous organizations throughout the nation that have endorsed the Senate companion legislation, including:

• Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of School Administrators
• Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
• Catholic Charities USA
• Child Welfare League of America
• Children’s Health Fund
• Habitat for Humanity
• The Midwives Alliance of North America
• National Assembly on School-Based Healthcare
• National Association of Children’s Hospitals
• National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
• National Association of Certified Professional Midwives
• National Association of School Nurses
• National Center for Disease Preparedness at Columbia University
• Safermaternity.org