Issue Position: Young People

Issue Position

Rosa believes that a secure future for our infants, children and youth means a secure future for Connecticut. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that Connecticut children grow up healthy and safe, and that they can access the education and programs they need to be successful in the changing economy.

Rosa sponsored legislation to create the Child Tax Credit, which relieves the burden placed on Connecticut's working families and stimulates our economy. Economists have praised the Child Tax Credit as one of the best targeted poverty alleviation policies, and the one that provides the best economic stimulus. Rosa has also supported increases to the tax credit, and was successful in securing a substantial expansion of this tax credit in the Jobs Bill passed by Congress, which will benefit many families with children in this difficult economy.

In greater New Haven this year, Rosa helped secure $4.7 million in funding for the Healthy Start Program, which works tirelessly to help close the gap in infant mortality rates between white families and families of color. Rosa's goal is to ensure that all of the children get the care they need, not just to survive, but to thrive.

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees all food safety and nutrition programs, Rosa has worked to increase access to safe, healthy food for Connecticut school children. She has been a leader in calling for the expansion of programs that provide fresh fruits and vegetables to schools, and in ensuring that food served in schools is completely safe.

In addition, Rosa has fought to ensure the safety of consumer products designed for children. After a record number of lead-based toy recalls, she sponsored legislation to toughen the Consumer Product Safety Act and enhance the accountability measures for establishments--both in this country and abroad--that distribute unsafe toys and other products to American families. Rosa believes that the distribution of unsafe consumer products to families with children is both completely unacceptable and completely avoidable, and will continue to fight to ensure that no parent has to worry about the safety of the toys and other products that they purchase for their children.

Source