“In his last budget as President, Bush has turned his back on programs that would ensure the safety and health of our nation’s children. From universal newborn screening to massive cuts in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, President Bush is proposing that we pay for his tax cuts on the backs of America’s most vulnerable citizens. His health care proposal includes several recycled proposals that will do nothing to help the 47 million uninsured Americans and the millions more that are underinsured.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a leading advocate for the safety and efficacy of medicines used by children, today applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Public Health Advisory that over-the-counter cold and cough medications should not be used in children under the age of two. However, he renewed his call for the FDA to act on the recommendations of its advisory committees concerning the safety and efficacy of these medications for older children between the ages of two and six.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) applauded unanimous Senate passage of their legislation that will educate parents and health care providers about newborn health screening, improve follow-up care for infants with an illness detected through newborn screening, and help states expand and improve their newborn screening programs.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) today introduced legislation which will help prevent thousands of new pediatric HIV infections, improve the treatment of children living with HIV/AIDS throughout the world, and improve outcomes for HIV-affected women and families.  The “Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Act of 2007” provides a comprehensive, five-year strategy to prevent new HIV infections in children and to ensure that the treatment of children infected with HIV keeps pace with their infection rate. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today hailed the unanimous Committee passage of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007.  Authored by Dodd, the bill, which seeks to expand and improve lifesaving screening of newborns for detectable and treatable conditions, passed unanimously out of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today expressed disappointment that President Bush vetoed the Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor HHS) Appropriations bill:

“It is unfortunate that President Bush has once again chosen to ignore both Congress and the American people to veto legislation that would improve the quality of life for millions of children and families throughout the nation. This needed legislation received wide bi-partisan support and would invest more than $150 million in education, health care, medical research, and job training. It is my hope that Congress will be successful in overriding this misguided veto and once again affirm its support for quality education and health care for the American people.   

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today applauded Senate agreement to end debate on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), setting the stage for final passage of the bill.

“Plain and simple, passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program will help ensure every child in America has the health care they deserve.  This bill represents the hard work and agreement of a majority of members on both sides of the aisle.  It is a testament to how critical issues like children’s health care can be addressed in a bipartisan manner by a united Congress.  I hope that President Bush will rise above partisan politics and support the efforts of both Democrats and Republicans alike to enact this measure.  The health of millions of children across the country hangs in the balance.”

As the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) own advisory committees question the safety and effectiveness of cough and cold medicine for children, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) yesterday sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach urging him to take swift action to ensure that the benefits of medications given to children outweigh their risks.  Dodd’s letter comes shortly after a joint meeting of two of the FDA’s advisory committees, the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee, where the committees recommended that over-the-counter cold medicines used by children under 6 years of age should be removed from store shelves due to safety concerns. 

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) lauded Congress for reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and urged President Bush to sign the critically important legislation into law.  The legislation, which has received wide bi-partisan support, would allow states to provide health insurance to a greater number of children from low income and working families. By reauthorizing SCHIP, an additional 3.1 million uninsured children will receive coverage, as well as the 6.6 million children currently in the program.  President Bush announced his intention to veto the legislation. If the President fails to sign this legislation into law, approximately 800,000 children will lose their SCHIP coverage.

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendments, Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act approved with Final Package of Food and Drug Administration Amendments

Members of the Senate today passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act, which contains legislation – the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendments of 2007 and the Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act – that were introduced earlier this year by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) to improve the safety and availability of medications and medical devices for children.  The bill will also make important changes to the nation’s drug safety system so that the FDA has clear authority, backed up by new enforcement tools, to ensure the safety of prescription drugs once they are on the market.  The FDA Amendments Act, which was approved by the House yesterday and the Senate today, will now go to the President’s desk to await his signature.