In Congress, Cognetti will advocate for children

Editor: As a retired pediatrician and a current school board member, I have long been an advocate for children.  I view the upcoming election for the U.S. House from that perspective. I have watched with dismay as the president and Congress have stripped away supports for those who can’t speak for themselves, the children.  From food accessibility to healthcare to education, the effects of  federal legislation have been devastating.

The gutting of the SNAP program has led to the unseemly reality of increasing childhood malnutrition and starvation. Such cost-cutting measures are ridiculous, given their toll on humanity. Thank goodness, Paige Cognetti understands this.

The health insurance for many children is Medicaid. The federal government has curtailed that program, also. Ironically, the consequence of this service reduction has been the shifting of financing for indigent healthcare from public to private sector, personal health insurance premiums increasing to pay hospitals trying to recoup money spent/lost on indigent patients. Mayor Cognetti, MBA, understands this; hopefully, her new Congressional colleagues will, also.

As a mother of two and a Scranton School Board ex-member, Mrs. Cognetti recognizes the importance of immunizing children against serious infections like measles. She understands that vaccines protect both the recipients and nearby children.  As a Congresswoman, she’ll be able to speak out for a resumption of commonsense childhood immunization requirements.

The Federal Dept. of Education has long financed schooling for special-needs children. With its elimination, that monetary burden shifts to the states. You will now see an increase in your state taxes while IRS monies for special education will henceforth help finance the war against Iran.

I’ll be voting for Paige Cognetti for Congress. Hopefully, she and her colleagues in a re-configured House will be able to reverse the misguided policies that are adversely affecting America’s children.

Robert Childs, MD, West Hazleton