Kids Group Scores Obama, Congress in 100 Days R...( Premier National child advocacy organ...),Health

Premier National child advocacy organization grades child health care reform 'incomplete'

WASHINGTON, May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As he passes the 100 days milestone, President Obama continues to enjoy high ratings from Americans on a majority of issues, but both his administration and 111th Congress score an "incomplete" for child health care reform in a report card issued Monday by Voices for America's Children, a premier national child advocacy organization.

"The mandate of health care for all children is long overdue," said William Bentley, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Voices for America's Children (Voices). "If the nation's children were to hand us their own report card on our attempts at health care reform, it'd have to read 'incomplete.'"

Voices gave President Obama a "B" and Congress received a "B-" for their 100 days score. With the report card, Voices sought to remind elected officials that many of the jobs lost in the economic downturn also represent family benefits lost. On this issue, Voices praised President Obama for his leadership but added much more needs to be done.

"The passage of SCHIP was a great first step but cannot be a final step. It was projected to leave five million kids uninsured even after full implementation - and that was before the economic downturn," Bentley said.

As Congress begins to draft health care reform legislation, Bentley urged lawmakers to guarantee that health care for all children will become a reality this year. "As government officials propose bailouts and massive reinvestment, we must show them that the best rate of return comes from an investment in our future innovators, workers and caretakers - our children."

The report card gave high marks to President Obama on the subject of Early Head Start, Head Start and child care.

"To cite just one example, President Obama's commitment t
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