Author Archive
Posted May 21st, 2010 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Child obesity is a crisis in this country. Over the last 30 years, child obesity rates have reached historic highs – more than tripling from just 5 percent to nearly 18 percent today. We must make improving child nutrition a top priority. If we fail to get serious about this issue today, we will face [...]
Posted March 18th, 2010 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Each year approximately 87 million Americans — 5 million in New York alone — are made ill by contaminated food. Of those, 371,000 are hospitalized with foodborne illness, and 5,700 die. In 2010 America, this is simply unacceptable. The fact is, our food safety laws have not truly been overhauled in more than a century. [...]
Posted December 9th, 2009 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
As the mother of two young boys, food safety is extremely important to me, as I know it is to all of you. I’m sorry to say though, that right now, the statistics are startling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year an estimated 87 million Americans are sickened by [...]
Posted November 24th, 2009 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Too often lost in the debate over health care reform is the importance of preventive measures such as exercise and healthy eating to ensure that a doctor’s visit is less likely to be needed in the first place. This is especially true for children whose early brain development and future health depend on good nutrition [...]
Posted September 1st, 2009 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
While Washington continues to debate the need for a health care overhaul, a related challenge gets far too little attention. Over the past 40 years, child obesity has increased dramatically – rising by 150% among 2 to 5 year olds, 400% among children 6 to 11 years old and more than 300% among young adults [...]
Posted July 6th, 2009 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
More parents than ever are balancing work and raising children. When I was growing up, just over one-third of mothers with young children worked outside the home. Today, it’s nearly two-thirds. The cost of quality child care is steadily increasing across New York. families across New York are paying approximately $10,400 per year for an [...]
Posted June 9th, 2009 by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Autism affects more American children than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. It’s a heartbreaking disease that approximately 29,400 children in every corner of New York suffer from. Despite autism’s far reach, insurance companies still don’t provide comprehensive coverage for effective treatments, and parents are paying the price – up to $6,000 a month for [...]