What are the challenges to advancing child health services research with Congress?
Congress, with its interest in national economic security, is interested in children as the future workforce and as productive members of society. Congress is also interested in children given their responsibility as fiscal agents for national health care programs for children, such as Medicaid and SCHIP and the high return on investment which comes from assuring healthy children. The Federal government also has a responsibility to intervene when the market fails to provide for social goods such as with child health services research and child health care in general. Members of Congress, given their interest in political survival, respond to the opinions of their constituencies as reflected by the “soccer mom” issue in recent elections. Also to be considered in furthering the role of the Federal government in child health services research are the personal interests of a number of legislators. The Federal government can play a number of roles in influencing what happens with the health
