McIntyre Works for Youth Sports

McIntyre Works for Youth Sports
December 12, 2005

An E-Update from U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre

Congressman McIntyre recently joined former NBA basketball star and current CBS basketball commentator, Clark Kellogg, and members of the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance (CTSA) in releasing results of the first-ever National Youth Sports Report Card.

In response to this report, Congressman McIntyre has created a Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports. This caucus will work with CTSA, its members and other interested parties, to help educate Members of Congress, the media, and the public that restoring a child-centered focus in youth sports will produce immeasurable positive benefits for the well-being and character development among this nation's youth.

CTSA's report card included 2 Ds, one in the category of "Parental Behavior/Involvement" and one in the area of "Child-Centered Philosophy," which focuses on the child's perspective of the experience. The panel also issued a C- for the "Coaching" category, a C+ in the area of "Health and Safety" and a B- in "Officiating."

We should, can, and must do better to provide a positive environment for youth sports. Good character development of our children, as well as their safety and future depend on it.

McIntyre Fights for Women's Health

The American Cancer Society reports that over 79,000 women are diagnosed and more than 27,000 women die each year from cancers affecting the reproductive organs, including ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers. If gynecological cancers are diagnosed in the early stages, the survivability rate can be as high as 95%. However, the survival rate drops to 50% or less when the cancers are diagnosed at more advanced stages.

The importance of early detection of gynecological cancers is crucial, yet too many women are unaware of the symptoms. For this reason, Congressman McIntyre recently co-sponsored H.R. 1245, along with along with over 220 of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation focuses on promoting awareness of the symptoms and warning signs of gynecological cancers. Specifically, the bill would establish a national public awareness campaign to increase women's knowledge and improve early detection of gynecological cancers. H.R. 1245 would also require the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to nonprofit private entities to test various education and outreach strategies designed to increase awareness of gynecological cancers among women and health professionals.

McIntyre Works to Help Military Families

Congressman McIntyre recently sent a letter to the Armed Services Conferees on the Defense Authorization bill urging them to provide income replacement payments of up to $3,000 per month to those members of the National Guard and Reserve who encounter an income loss during extended mobilizations.

51% of the members of the National Guard and Reserve report that they face a loss of income when mobilized for long periods of active duty because their military pay is less than their civilian pay. Congressman McIntyre has been focused on providing critical assistance to the members of the National Guard and Reserve serving in Iraq and Afghanistan whose families, in some cases, are struggling to keep up with mortgage, car, child care, and education payments on substantially less income than they enjoyed as civilians prior to extended deployments.

http://www.house.gov/mcintyre/assets/E-newsletter/Dec%202005/12_12_05.html