EXTENSION OF PUBLIC PROTECTION OF MATERNITY AND INFANCY ACT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Thursday, January 14, 1926. The committee met at 2.30 o'clock p. m., Hon. James S. Parker (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please come to order. We have under consideration H. R. 7555, introduced by Mr. Parker, which reads as follows: [H. R. 7555, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session] A BILL To authorize for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1928, and June 30, 1929, appropriations for carrying out the provisions of the act entitled "An act for the promotion of the welfare and hygiene of maternity and infancy, and for other purposes," approved November 23, 1921 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 2 of the act entitled "An act for the promotion of the welfare and hygiene of maternity and infancy, and for other purposes," approved November 23, 1921, is amended by striking out the words "for the period of five years' " wherever such words appear in such section and inserting in lieu thereof the words "for the period of seven years." Which in substance extends the maternity bill for two extra years. The committee thinks that it is no more than fair that we should make this statement, that each side will be limited to 40 minutes, to be divided as you see fit. The proponents, of course, have the first 40 minutes, the opponents the second 40 minutes, and when the 40 minutes is over I am sorry to say that I shall certainly call time on you, because, as you all know, this committee heard this subject for months and months during the Sixty-seventh Congress. Mr. NEWTON. The proponents may desire to hold part of their time for rebuttal. I presume there will be no objection to that. The CHAIRMAN. Oh, no; there will be no objection to that. The committee expects to be fair about it, of course. You may proceed, Mrs. Park. STATEMENT OF MRS. MAUD WOOD PARK, 532 SEVENTEENTH STREET NW., WASHINGTON, D. C., REPRESENTING THE WOMEN'S COMMITTEE FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE SHEPPARD-TOWNER ACT Mrs. PARK. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, we wish to thank you for the opportunity of having the hearing at this time, when the State directors of the maternity and infancy act from various parts of the country are here for their annual conference. The women's organizations that have been vitally interested in this question from the start, would, of course, be glad to present their representatives to you again, but it has seemed to us wise to ask to 1 speak to you only those who have been actively concerned in the work at this time, and with your permission I will file statements from some of the organizations that are interested in this matter. (The papers referred to follow :) Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, AMERICAN CHILD HEALTH ASSOCIATION, Chairman Interstate Foreign Commerce Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: On behalf of the American Child Health Association I wish to expres: the hope for and record our approval of an extension of time, under the Sheppard-Towner Act, for the promotion of activities in the States under the direction of the State Department of Child Hygiene for the safeguarding of life and health of mothers and infants. I am of the belief that the Federal aid thus far granted has been instru mental for great good in furthering the cause of maternal and infant hygiene and in stimulating those rational activities in the various States that bear upon the reduction of material and infant mortality and the promotion of the health of mothers and infants. Sincerely yours, S. J. CRUMBINE, General Executive. NATIONAL WOMEN'S TRADE UNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA, Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: On behalf of the National Women's Trade Union League, I desire to record with the Committee on Interstate Commerce our request for favorable action by the committee and by the Congress upon the bill which you have introduced for continuance of the appropriation for administration of the act of Congress establishing Federal and State cooperation in maternity and infancy care. From the time the original legislation was proposed our membership has supported it, and we have rejoiced in the successful operation of the law in the several years since it was enacted. We earnestly hope that a new appropria tion may be authorized without delay. Sincerely yours, ETHEL M. SMITH, NEW YORK, N. Y., January 12, 1926. Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee: The National Council of Jewish Women appeals for an extension of time for the Sheppard-Towner Act, which has been working with such significance and successful results. We are convinced that the time allowed for its working has been too short to prove its merits thoroughly and completely. ESTELLE M. STERNBERGER, Executive Secretary. NATIONAL BOARD OF THE YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN To the honorable members of the Interstate Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives. DEAR SIR: The National Board of the Young Womens Christian Associations of the United States of America wishes to state its support of the movement to extend the working of the Sheppard-Towner Maternity and Infancy Act. The board was an earnest supporter of the act when first put into effect, and feels that reports of its results amply justify a further extension of its operation. Very truly yours, (Miss) ELIZABETH EASTMAN, Member of National Board. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN (INC.), Chairman Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, Washington, D. C.: The National Council of Women, on whose behalf I have the privilege of writing you, has a membership of 36 national organizations covering many varied interests, but the one claiming the time and thought of the greatest number is that which has to do with the mother and child. The council indorsed the Sheppard-Towner maternity and infancy bill soon after it was introduced and has followed its administration with interest and satisfaction. Therefore, in view of the results during the short time the act has been in operation, the council hopes the appropriation for continuing this work and fully demonstrating its value will be renewed and earnestly begs you and your associates to lend your efforts to this end. On behalf of the National Council of Women, I am, Very faithfully yours, E. B. SWIGGETT, Corresponding Secretary. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, MY DEAR MR. PARKER: When the Sheppard-Towner bill was pending before the Congress in 1921 the National League of Women Voters heartily indorsed it, convinced of the good which could be accomplished under its provisions. Since the enactment of the bill the league has followed its administration with keen interest and satisfaction. Therefore, I write now to express the hope of the league that the time limit of the act may be extended in the present session of Congress. The experience and work under the act in the past few years demonstrates that the assurance to the States of Federal cooperation for a longer period would go far to secure the results already gained. There would be deplorable waste of such experience and work should the benefits of the act terminate in June, 1927. By extension of the period of Federal cooperation a great advance may be made in the education of the States and of local communities in a program meaning much to the health of mothers and infants. It is with a deep sense of the importance of establishing the purposes of the maternity and infancy act that I express the hope of the League of Women Voters that your committee may report promptly and favorably upon the request for an extension of time for the operation of the act and that the measure may speedily be passed by the House. Sincerely yours, Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, BELL SHERWIN, President. Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Hon. JAMES S. PARKER, NATIONAL CONSUMERS' LEAGUE, Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The National Consumers' League respectfully requests you to support the extension of the Sheppard-Towner Act, continuing it for five years. This organiaztion favored the bill in every stage from its initial introduction as the Rankin-Robinson bill to its passage by Congress, and its signature by President Harding. We have closely observed the working of the law in this and other States, and its results have, in our opinion, already fully demonstrated the need for its continuance. It is ground for satisfaction that this country is now surpassed by only five instead of ten-other nations when measured by our reduction of deaths of children before their first birthday. But we as the richest and, as we like to think, the most enlighteded of the nations, should lead the world in the effective care of our children. To this end continuance of the Sheppard-Towner law is indispensably necessary. Yours respectfully, FLORENCE KELLEY. |