March 5, 2008, 3 a.m. -  U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland Democrat, was named one of the Best Representatives of Children.  Cummings scored 100 percent on the Children's Defense Fund Action Council (CDFAC) 2007 Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard, which grades every Member of Congress based on key votes affecting children. Less than 40 percent of House members received a perfect score.

            "Our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see, and I am fully committed to ensuring that they make it to that future as healthy, well-educated, and happy as possible," Cummings said. "I am extremely honored to be named one of the Best Representatives for Children, and I am committed to continuing my work to guarantee that we are all doing our part to protect our most precious resource and most vulnerable population."

            The CDFAC scorecard is determined by how members voted on 10 key issues that directly affect the lives of our children. This year's votes included protecting children from unsafe medications (H.R. 2900), extending coverage to 4.1 million additional uninsured children (H.R. 3162), providing funding increases for key mental health, education, and job training programs (H.R. 3043), and improving the Head Start program (H.R. 142).

 

            "There is no reason why—in the wealthiest country in the world—we have children living in poverty with no access to quality health care, no access to quality education, and no access to a positive future where they can be the best that they can be," Cummings said. "It is critical that we all do everything in our power to live up to the standards that our children deserve."

            Scores of Members of Congress on the 2007 Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard can be obtained by visiting www.cdfactioncouncil.org.

 

Lewis and DeLauro as President to Make Spirituals National Treasure

 

       U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Georgia Democrat, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Democrat, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to join Congress in honoring the African American spiritual.  Last year the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution (H. Res. 120), which recognizes the contribution of African American spirituals to our nation's history.  The bill declares the African American spiritual a national treasure and urges the President to do the same with a national proclamation.

 

        "Through the African American spiritual, "said Rep. John Lewis, "we can hear the voices of African slaves, some of our American ancestors, calling out to the divine, seeking guidance through their dark night of suffering.  Though the institution of slavery is gone, the music still continues to inspire because it so simply yet beautifully describes the trials of the human condition.  These songs also formed the backbone of the Civil Rights Movement, a revolution of values in our lifetime that helped redeem the soul of America.  Due to the powerful role this music has played in American history and for the continuing inspiration it provides today, I believe it is both fitting and appropriate for the President to proclaim these songs as a national treasure."  

 

        "The African American spiritual has been woven into the fabric of this nation's history, in fact, people around the globe play and enjoy music that draws on the musical legacy of enslaved Africans.  It truly epitomizes the theme of Black History Month this year, which emphasizes how the struggles of African Americans have contributed to the diverse American identity,” DeLauro said. "I would urge the President to share in this celebration of the historic achievements of African Americans and issue the proclamation recognizing the African American spiritual and a national treasure." 

 

Cummings Joins AAPD, OHS to Announce New Partnership

 

U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland Democrat, joined the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the Office of Head Start (OHS) to announce a new $10 million partnership to help combat children's tooth decay.

 

            Under the partnership, OHS will award a five-year, $10 million contract to the AAPD to establish dental homes for one million children enrolled annually in OHS programs. Dental decay is currently the single most common chronic disease in children, and the prevalence of tooth decay in children in a number of Head Start programs is higher than the national average.

 

            "Proper dental care is not just about having a nice smile; it is a critical component in children's overall health and development," Cummings said. "This partnership will help us make great strides in our fight to ensure that all children have access to quality health care."

 

            The announcement came during the week of the one-year anniversary of the death of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Maryland boy who died when an untreated tooth infection spread to his brain. Following this tragedy, Cummings made it his personal mission to make progress on multiple fronts to ensure that other children would not suffer Deamonte's fate.