WASHINGTON - s4story -- Healthy Schools Network has long-supported and advanced new federal programs and funding that help make schools and children healthy and stay healthy.  "This week's House Budget will damage children's health and the ability to learn, as well as undercut the President's Commission for Making America Healthy Again," said Claire Barnett, Executive Director, of the Healthy Schools Network, She added, "The Senate must end these reckless budget decisions."

The federal Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 40% of school age children have one or more chronic health conditions, including asthma, a leading cause of absenteeism. Yet, the US GAO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and US EPA have found over the last three decades that the nation's 98,000 public school facilities are deteriorating and need to improve indoor air quality and other operating systems to reduce asthma emergency room visits, the spread of infective disease, and improve attendance and test scores.

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The current House Budget is cutting Medicaid, a program used by half of all US children to keep them healthy at home, and at school.  Medicaid can cover school-based health care and therapy for children with disabilities, and can pay for school nurses. Chopping billions from the school lunch program won't help kids learn either.

More Reckless Cuts Proposed
Cutting US EPA funds that could advance healthy indoor air in schools, cutting regulations on toxic chemicals that harm children, cutting regulations on clean air and water, and cutting funding for Education aid to poor children and children with disabilities. All these proposed budget and program resource cuts will make all kids sicker, not healthier.

The Senate must stop the House's reckless budget decisions to help make all children healthier.