Rep. Doris Matsui and Children Advocates Applaud Funding of National Children's Study in President's Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 8, 2009
CONTACT: Alexis Marks or Mara Lee
202.225.7163
Rep. Doris Matsui and Children Advocates Applaud Funding of National Children's Study in President's Budget
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) joined with children's advocates today to applaud the $194.4 million for the National Children's Study that is contained in President Barack Obama's budget proposal for fiscal year 2010, released yesterday. The budget contains key funding for America's top priorities as outlined by the President, and makes strategic investments in children's health initiatives like the National Children's Study that Rep. Matsui has been instrumental in securing.
"I am pleased that President Obama has recognized the importance of the National Children's Study by providing such robust funding for it in his budget proposal," said Rep. Matsui. "The Study will revolutionize children's health in this country by helping researchers understand the environmental causes of childhood health conditions that cost our health care system billions of dollars and that make life more difficult for millions of American children. I look forward to working with President Obama and with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the Study stays high on Congress's priority list during the fiscal year 2010 appropriations cycle."
The National Children's Study is an innovative undertaking that will help determine the root causes of many childhood and adult diseases such as premature birth, asthma, diabetes, childhood obesity, and developmental disabilities such as autism. The Study will track 100,000 children nationwide from before birth to the age of 21, in order to identify the environmental causes behind these adverse conditions.
In Sacramento, which is one of the more than 100 locations around the country in which the National Children's Study will be conducted, the U.C. Davis Medical Center is leading the Study's implementation. "The National Children's Study funding proposed in President Obama's budget will allow the U.C. Davis Medical Center to continue playing a major role in the Study," said Dr. Richard Sweet, a physician at the U.C. Davis Children's Hospital and one of the main Study investigators in Sacramento. "Thanks to Congresswoman Matsui's steadfast leadership on this important issue, the National Children's Study will continue to play a major role as part of the U.C. Davis Medical Center's research portfolio."
"The March of Dimes applauds inclusion of the National Children's Study in the President's Budget and urges Congress to continue its commitment to providing the funding needed for this groundbreaking study" said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. "These are the answers critical to improving our children's health. The March of Dimes is especially grateful to Congresswoman Matsui and the Congressional Children's Study Working Group for their unwavering support of this vitally important initiative."
"By continuing to fund this groundbreaking study, America will take huge steps to provide for the health of future generations," Matsui continued. "The National Children's Study represents a major commitment to ensure that our children and grandchildren live longer, healthier, and better lives, and I am pleased to continue supporting it."
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