CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
105th Congress (1997)
HR 1419, THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ENFORCEMENT ACT (5/22/97)
HR 1419, The Child Abuse and Neglect Enforcement Act (CANEA) has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Susan Molinari (R-NY).
BACKGROUND:
HR 1419 would require states to implement a law that requiring hospitals to conduct alcohol and drug testing of every newborn baby, or risk a penalty of up to 40 percent of the federal Substance Abuse Block Grant allocation. As written, states would have to bear the entire cost of the tests. Rep. Molinari's staff has suggested that states use funding from the block grant to pay for the tests.
The bill would also require that child protective services be given access to crucial information such as a positive drug test of babies and prior criminal convictions, both inside and across state lines.
NCADD's concerns about HR 1419 include:
the legislation would take money away from public prevention and treatment services that are in existence and already underfunded.
the bill is silent on the need for assessing and treating the mothers identified as having used alcohol or drugs near their deliveries.
the bill wastes precious resources by testing all infants when most infants will test negative for alcohol or drug addiction at birth.
Given that House Speaker Newt Gingrich has co-sponsored this legislation, the chances for passage are good. Currently, there are no hearings scheduled.
For more information on HR 1419, contact the Public Policy Office via
e-mail at publicpolicy@ncadd.org.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Write or call your representative and urge him or her to oppose HR 1419. Talking points are listed below.
TALKING POINTS
- Newborn drug testing costs between $50 and $100 per
test. The cost of testing all newborns in the United States in 1995 was between $200 and $400 million. Using
money from the Substance Abuse Block Grant would mean
states would be faced with a funding shortfall for
necessary community-based services.
- The legislation will deter women who use alcohol and
other drugs from delivering at hospitals or with the
assistance of licensed providers if they are faced with
losing their child.
- The bill is an unfunded mandate for states because it
does not identify a new funding stream to pay for the
alcohol and drug testing.
HOW TO CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Email:
The U. S. House of Representatives
Write:
The Honorable --
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Call:
The Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for
your representative's office.