Dear Editor,

The State of America’s Children 2020 Report has just been released.

According to The Children’s Defense Fund, the report demonstrates how America is falling shamefully short in looking out for its children:

The report teaches us: “A society must be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable-and most valuable-members: its children.”

“And yet in the wealthiest nation on Earth, the proportion of federal dollars invested in children has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. The shameful state of our children is not an inevitability — it is a choice.”

According to the CDF, we are grievously failing children by allowing:

∫ Nearly 1 in 6 children (12 million) in the United States to live in poverty.

∫ Children to make up more than 20 percent (2.5 million) of those experiencing homelessness.

∫ 5.5% (4.3 million) of children to be without health insurance. (400,000 children have lost health insurance under Trump.)

∫ 72 percent of black and Hispanic fourth-graders in public schools to be not proficient in reading or math.

∫ Every day in America, five children to be killed by abuse and neglect.

∫ A child or teen to be arrested every 43 seconds.

∫ About 1,500 children to be killed by guns each year.

What can we do besides wringing our hands and complaining about our inability to do anything?

We can become involved, as much as possible, as an active advocate by badgering Congress persons and state legislators, running for office, attending rallies, demonstrating, writing letters, etc.– in support of:

∫ Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit by 10%, and Raising the Federal Minimum Wage up to $15/hour.

∫ Providing Section 8 Housing for all eligible (where housing cost more than 30% of income).

∫ Equipping each child with quality health insurance.

∫ Improving school buildings and increasing teacher salaries, at least in poor school districts.

∫ Giving short and long term counseling to all families at risk of domestic violence.

∫Closing of all private correction facilities (including adult private facilities).

∫ Requiring strict gun control laws including: background checks, only five-bullet magazines, and no semi-automatic weapons.

∫ Helping children in distress is our most important and urgent duty.

We must not continue to fail way too many of our kids!

Bill Bryant

St. Clairsville