The data show that, here in Missouri, we continue to fail to put the health and welfare of our children first.

Children?s health is a statewide issue. Our elected officials need to put the interests of children at the top of their priority lists.

Too many children are not getting a healthy start in life; they are not getting proper preventive medical care; and they are not getting a nutritious diet. The cost to them, and to all of us if we continue down this path, will be overwhelming.

These folks want to pay the premiums. We were on the right track in trying to insure as many children as possible. The governor is saying that kids are his priority. Clearly, they're not.

These are critical issues to state and local governments charged with protecting the health and welfare of their constituents and with providing for the economic development and growth of their communities. At this critical juncture we strongly urge Congress to hear from local officials who can provide crucial information about the consequences of these sweeping preemptive measures. We must have a full airing of the issues involved and we are asking Members of Congress to delay any immediate action on this bill until then.

Basically, they call it health and welfare traffic and what they've been doing over, probably, the last seven days, is if they can get information, they will try and locate an individual. It helps to have phone numbers, last known locations and if they made it to a shelter.