WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, praised President-Elect Barack Obama for his choice of former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Following the announcement, First Focus President Bruce Lesley released the following statement:
“The nomination of former Senator Tom Daschle to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is an outstanding choice and a welcome change from current leadership on children’s policy.
For 25 years in the United States Senate, Tom Daschle was a steadfast champion of the interests of our nation’s children. He supported children’s health coverage through Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). He fought to save the lives of kids throughout their childhood by combating health problems ranging from infant mortality and fetal alcohol syndrome to reducing the incidence of teenage suicide.
As President-Elect Obama’s chief health advisor, Senator Daschle will oversee and advise the president on many of the most important issues affecting the health and well-being of America’s children, including oversight over the SCHIP program, Medicaid, and the Indian Health Service. Further, he will lead programs such as Head Start and the nation’s foster care and child welfare systems, in addition to many others within the Administration of Children and Families.
While Senator Daschle has always been an exceptional advocate for all issues affecting the well-being of America’s children, he has a special understanding and much needed focus on the plight of Native American children. In fact, there is no one better positioned to improve the health and welfare of Native American children than Tom Daschle.
Moreover, we are confident that, as a leader of President Obama’s health reform efforts, Secretary Daschle will remember the importance of addressing the developmental needs of children. This is essential in any comprehensive reform effort, as children’s needs are complex. Indeed, Mr. Daschle understands that children’s health care needs differ greatly from those of adults.
Without question, the Obama Administration has significant work ahead of it to improve the health and well-being of America’s children’s, including overturning a number of rules and regulations that adversely impact the number of kids who can be enrolled in programs such as SCHIP and Medicaid. Instead of efforts to undermine their health, the incoming administration must begin thinking about how to improve children’s health outcomes. Now more than ever, ensuring there is a strong and sound safety net for children is critical, as more and more Americans find themselves losing their jobs and their health coverage.
With HHS Secretary Tom Daschle at the helm, children and families throughout the nation can rest assured that the next generation has a friend and advocate in the White House. We wish him well and offer our full assistance as he undertakes this challenging and important position.”