BIOGRAPHY
Congressman Stephen F. Lynch was elected to the House of Representatives in 2001. He holds a J.D from Boston College, and a M.P.A from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He and his wife Margaret are lifelong residents of South Boston where they are raising their daughter Victoria and niece Crystal.
Q1: While the U.S. has made improvements in the number of children who have health insurance, many children remain uninsured. In addition, federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will expire unless the program is reauthorized by March 2009. What priority do you place on SCHIP reauthorization? What can be done, if anything, to increase the number of children who have access to health insurance?
The reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is of the utmost importance. On several occasions during the 110th Congress, my colleagues and I attempted to enact landmark SCHIP legislation which would have increased total spending to approximately $60 billion as well as expanded health coverage to approximately 10 million children. By expanding eligibility, we would ensure that all children have access to some form of health insurance.
Q2: While the federal government has supported many initiatives to improve health care quality, these efforts often focus on adults and Medicare recipients. What steps, if any, would you support to enhance the quality of children's health care?
Guaranteeing that all children have access to primary care is more cost-effective than addressing illnesses that have gone untreated. Provisions contained within the SCHIP legislation, which I supported last year, would have ensured that an additional 4 million children receive health insurance thereby preventing untreated illnesses from occurring. Additionally, programs which educate children and their parents on the importance of nutrition and physical education are essential to their health and well-being.
Q3: Senator Menendez introduced S. 3277, the "Children's Budget Act," which would add a requirement to future federal budgets to list the different sources of federal funding for children's programs, thereby illustrating how the federal government prioritizes and allocates resources affecting children. What importance, if any, do you place on creating a Children's Budget and why?
Q4: Health care reform may be a big topic for Congressional debate in 2009. What initiatives, if any, would you proactively support? How do you see children's healthcare fitting into this larger debate?
The debate on health care reform during the 111th Congress must focus on fixing the Medicare Part D prescription drug "doughnut hole" and insuring individuals who are currently without health insurance. Additionally, it is my hope that the SCHIP Reauthorization will play a major role in the in the beginning months of the 111th Congress. My colleagues and I remain committed to reauthorizing the SCHIP program thus expanding its coverage to millions of uninsured children.
Q5: The Federal Poverty Measure has remained virtually unchanged since it was first created in the 1960s, leading to various proposals to modify it. What changes, if any, would you make to the current method of determining how many Americans lives in poverty and why?
While it is imperative that we take a comprehensive approach to addressing problems with the current Federal Poverty Measure formula, we must also concentrate on ways to increase a family’s ability to earn. The revitalization of neighborhoods, reinvesting into our communities, and expanding eligibility to programs such as LIHEAP and SCHIP will assist families who are currently above the outdated formula.
Q6: The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 is set to expire on September 30, 2009. This legislation includes a range of programs—such as the school breakfast and lunch programs, the summer food service program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Which programs supported by the legislation, if any, would you support? What can be done, if anything, through this legislation or other vehicles to help children, families, and communities address the growing childhood obesity crisis?
Good nutrition is the key to a child's ability to remain healthy and succeed in their education. With childhood obesity becoming an epidemic it is clearer than ever that we must provide children with healthy choices in our schools. Accordingly, I supported the 2008 Farm Bill and Continuing Appropriations bill which contained funding for the Nutrition Program for WIC, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, as well as healthy school breakfast and lunch programs.
Q7: Child poverty has been shown to have an effect on children's health, education, and development. What do you think should be done by the federal government to reduce poverty among children in Massachusetts and throughout New England?
The best way to address child poverty is by implementing programs which provide families with assistance in attaining necessities such as energy, food, family education, and health care. For that reason I will continue to support programs such as LIHEAP, TANF, food stamps, WIC, and SCHIP which all assists needy families in raising their children in a healthy environment.
Q8: The increasing incidence of chronic diseases in children (i.e. asthma, diabetes, mental health) presents major challenges to our health care system. How would you work to prevent disease and ensure children have access to the health services they need?
Reauthorizing SCHIP, fully funding child nutrition programs, and encouraging children to engage in physical activities all play a major role in ensuring children maintain a healthy lifestyle. With increasing medical expenses, it is imperative that every child has access to health coverage so families are not apprehensive about seeing a doctor. Families must be proactive and work in conjunction with schools to educate children on the importance of physical activity and nutrition.
