Pediatricians to Rehberg: “Put Children First”

 

BILLINGS, Mont. – Congressman Dennis Rehberg’s budget proposal is being slammed by an organization representing 60,000 pediatricians for his proposal to cut vital children’s health care.

Rehberg, who consistently protects tax breaks for millionaires, oversees federal health funding in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dr. Robert Block, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is now calling on Rehberg to “put children first” after the Congressman proposed a controversial budget plan that fails to invest in children’s health care.

“Strong financial investments in children’s health care, research and prevention programs will help keep our children healthy, provide the foundation for adult health, and lower overall health care costs for years to come,” Block said of Rehberg’s proposal. “We simply cannot afford to put children at further risk by cutting funding for such critical programs.”

Read the full statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics HERE.

The organization specifically slams Rehberg for trying to end initiatives that modernize vaccines, cut tobacco use among children and fight childhood obesity.

Rehberg is targeting Title VII workforce programs and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The American Academy of Pediatrics chides Rehberg for trying to revoke health insurance protections for children with pre-existing conditions and young adults on their parents’ insurance plans—policies supported by Jon Tester.

Rehberg is also trying to cut $111 million from the Administration for Children and Families which has helped more than 3,700 Montana families through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families initiative.

Rehberg’s cuts would create serious difficulties to Montana families who adopt or foster children and programs that assist runaway and homeless youth and children with developmental disabilities.

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