Push to reauthorize Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act

May 25, 2007

Yesterday Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (GLSMA), legislation designed to prevent youth suicide. Originally passed in 2002, the GLSMA authorized the creation of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, which provides support, training and resources for the development of youth suicide prevention programs across the country.  The funding for programs supported by the GLSMA must be reauthorized this year.

Today, as many American families prepare for Memorial Day beach vacations and backyard cook-outs, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, expressing their concern about the FDA’s standards for sunscreen labeling, which currently require that sunscreen protect against UVB rays, known for causing sunburn and increasing the incidence of skin cancer.  However, the FDA does not require protection against UVA rays, which are a major cause of skin cancer and premature aging.  Most European countries require that sunscreens provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection, which protects against the sun’s carcinogenic effects more thoroughly.  Congress directed the FDA to incorporate UVA protection into its standard for sunscreen labeling by May 2006, but the FDA has yet to comply with Congress’ directive.   

May 22, 2007

Senator Dodd today blasted the Bush Administration for cutting HIV/AIDS funding for Hartford and New Haven under the Ryan White CARE Act Part A supplemental program.  The City of Hartford’s grant award was cut from $2,024,791 to $913,750 and the City of New Haven’s grant award was cut from $2,710,386 to $1,501,862.  Senator Dodd issued the following statement in response:

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), along with Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), today introduced legislation that calls for the development of a national strategy and an increase in resources to reduce global child, newborn and maternal mortality.  The introduction of the U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act of 2007 comes shortly after the release of Save the Children’s annual State of the World’s Mothers report, which revealed the alarming fact that each year over 10 million children die worldwide before reaching the age of five.  The bill has widespread, bi-partisan, and bi-cameral support, and has been endorsed by Save the Children, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the ONE Campaign, among other organizations.  A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 10 by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Congressman Chris Shays (R-CT).

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendments, Pediatric Medical Devices Safety and Improvement Act approved with Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act

May 9, 2007

Members of the Senate today passed Senate Bill 1082, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Revitalization 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).  This legislation reauthorizes the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) which was first enacted in 1997 and reauthorized in 2002.  The bill passed by a vote of 93 to 1. 

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) today sent a letter to Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, requesting an increase in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The CSBG serves communities across the country by assisting low-income individuals and families to become self sufficient, through the work of approximately 1,100 Community Action Agencies (CAA) that leverage resources for services like Head Start, child care and after school programs, health care, and literacy and job training initiatives. CAAs also support programs which promote financial literacy, housing and homeownership assistance, and meal programs. Funding for the CSBG has decreased in recent years from its 2002 level of $650 million.  Senators Dodd and Grassley, along with a bipartisan coalition of 41 other Senators who signed the letter, have requested increased funding for Fiscal Year 2008 to restore funding and allow these important local initiatives to meet current costs. 

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Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today led his Senate colleagues in the defeat of an amendment that would have eliminated an important component of his legislation, the Better/Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA), which is included in the Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act (S. 1082) being considered by the Senate this week.  Dodd’s bill reauthorizes the BPCA, which he originally authored in 1997 and reauthorized in 2002.  The amendment, defeated by a vote of 41 to 53, would have eliminated a provision in the BPCA that adjusts the patent extension awarded to pharmaceutical companies with U.S. drug sales over $1 billion from 6 to 3 months.  Defeat of this amendment will ensure savings of $50 million over 10 years under Dodd's bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

“Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Month, and as the nation reflects on the many mental health matters facing our citizens, it is my hope that we can renew our commitment to strengthen our nation’s response to the problem of mental illness.

Unfortunately, mental health disorders continue to carry an unfortunate stigma, which often prevents people, particularly children and adolescents, from receiving the help they need.  We, as a society, bear an obligation to work to remove this stigma and help those suffering from mental health disorders get treatment, like we would for those with physical ailments.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, today introduced legislation critical to millions of American children who suffer from food allergies.  Dodd’s bill, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2007, would provide for a consistent, voluntary approach to food allergy management guidelines for schools to consider implementing, and would offer incentive grants to schools that choose to implement such voluntary guidelines.  The bill, which Dodd initially introduced in 2006, is endorsed by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 

“Today’s report serves as an important reminder of the fiscal challenges our country faces in the not-too-distant future.  Since its establishment during the Great Depression, Social Security has lifted millions of seniors, surviving spouses and children, and disabled Americans out of poverty, yet this administration continues to undermine its long-term fiscal health and openly advocate for its dismantlement through privatization.  Ensuring Social Security’s continued ability to safeguard current and future generations will require a serious, constructive dialogue that puts aside political agendas and divisions for the good of the country.