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WASHINGTON—Thirty-six national children’s advocacy groups united Thursday in calling for a 2009 economic stimulus bill to include multibillion-dollar investments in youth programs – a key agenda item of Rep. Robert C. Scott.
On a conference call with reporters announcing the “Invest in Children, Strengthen America” campaign, Scott, D-3rd, said congressional debate over rebuilding roads and bridges to spur the economy must address the challenges facing the nation’s troubled teens as well.
“Problems like teen pregnancy, school drop outs, drugs and gangs are all interrelated,” Scott said. “The best solution is primary prevention. When you solve one you actually solve them all.”
The Obama administration has floated the idea of an economic recovery bill costing as much as $1.2 trillion to be aimed at schools, alternative energy and physical infrastructure.
Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, said there needs to be “a parallel investment in our human infrastructure.”
Leaders of the newly-created Children’s Leadership Council seek money for a range of children’s programs that they argue are directly linked to getting the nation’s unemployed workers back on the job. High on their wish list is $70 billion over five years for childcare and early education.
“You can’t take a 2-year-old to a job interview and you can’t keep a job without childcare,” said Linda Smith of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
Bill Bentley of Voices for America’s Children said, “Our current economic problems are compounding the crisis our children are facing.” He said youth investments would have an immediate economic payoff through reduced crime, less remedial education costs and less welfare dependency.
Scott, who has carried legislation focused on juvenile crime prevention, said spending on youth programs now can greatly reduce prison costs later. He cited the example of a $2.5 million federal grant for gang prevention in Richmond, which was recently credited with reducing crime in a targeted area of the city.
Most youth programs, he said, fit the incoming administration’s vision for economic stimulus investments.
“The mantra has been three Ts -- timely, temporary and targeted,” Scott said. “Many of the programs we are talking about can be implemented fairly quickly.”
(Contact Neil Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com.)
On a conference call with reporters announcing the “Invest in Children, Strengthen America” campaign, Scott, D-3rd, said congressional debate over rebuilding roads and bridges to spur the economy must address the challenges facing the nation’s troubled teens as well.
“Problems like teen pregnancy, school drop outs, drugs and gangs are all interrelated,” Scott said. “The best solution is primary prevention. When you solve one you actually solve them all.”
The Obama administration has floated the idea of an economic recovery bill costing as much as $1.2 trillion to be aimed at schools, alternative energy and physical infrastructure.
Rep. Jim Moran, D-8th, said there needs to be “a parallel investment in our human infrastructure.”
Leaders of the newly-created Children’s Leadership Council seek money for a range of children’s programs that they argue are directly linked to getting the nation’s unemployed workers back on the job. High on their wish list is $70 billion over five years for childcare and early education.
“You can’t take a 2-year-old to a job interview and you can’t keep a job without childcare,” said Linda Smith of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
Bill Bentley of Voices for America’s Children said, “Our current economic problems are compounding the crisis our children are facing.” He said youth investments would have an immediate economic payoff through reduced crime, less remedial education costs and less welfare dependency.
Scott, who has carried legislation focused on juvenile crime prevention, said spending on youth programs now can greatly reduce prison costs later. He cited the example of a $2.5 million federal grant for gang prevention in Richmond, which was recently credited with reducing crime in a targeted area of the city.
Most youth programs, he said, fit the incoming administration’s vision for economic stimulus investments.
“The mantra has been three Ts -- timely, temporary and targeted,” Scott said. “Many of the programs we are talking about can be implemented fairly quickly.”
(Contact Neil Simon at nsimon@mediageneral.com.)