“This is a great day as we take the opportunity to help millions of our children fighting childhood diseases,” Walter Jones said. “I urge President Clinton to sign the Children’s Health Act of 2000.  This bill has the potential to help children suffering from emotional disorders as well as diseases like muscular dystrophy and epilepsy.  Our children today are the future of America.  We must do everything in our power to protect them and ensure that they may live a long and healthy life.”

H.R. 4365 will considerably increase federal research and prevention efforts aimed at reducing the diseases and illnesses facing children and increasing research activities.  The Children’s Health bill establishes a new Pediatric Research Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also authorizes additional federal resources targeted at autism, fragile X, birth defects, early hearing loss, epilepsy, asthma, juvenile arthritis, childhood malignancies, juvenile diabetes, traumatic brain injury, Healthy Start, hepatitis C and autoimmune diseases. Finally, the legislation promotes adoption awareness in this country for at-risk and special needs children.

Groups supporting passage of H.R. 4365 include: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Autism Society of America; Developmental Disabilities Research Centers Association; Easter Seals; Epilepsy Foundation; Hep C Connection; International Brain Injury Association; March of Dimes; Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy Research; Arthritis Foundation.

This bill was overwhelmingly passed in both the House and the Senate and awaits President Clinton’s signature.