Rep. Landsman Questions RFK Jr. on Head Start Funding, NIOSH Layoffs, and Maternal Health Programs

Maternal Health Funding

• 💡 Representative Landsman inquired about restoring funding for the Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Program, which focuses on best practices and data collection to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities.
• ✅ Secretary Kennedy expressed willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to restore funding for this program, emphasizing its importance for saving mothers' lives and improving birth outcomes.

Head Start Program Assurance

• 🚀 Landsman raised concerns about potential cuts to Head Start funding, a program significant for early childhood development and parental training, noting its historical importance to the Kennedy family.
• 💬 Secretary Kennedy assured that Head Start funding is secure and will not be touched, highlighting its role in supporting 750,000 of the poorest children and their parents.
• 🤝 Kennedy expressed gratitude for the restoration of Head Start funding and committed to protecting it.

NIOSH Worker Safety and Layoffs

• ⚠️ The discussion shifted to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), with Landsman noting potential layoffs affecting approximately 1,000 to 1,200 positions, including those crucial for firefighter and miner safety.
• 🔬 Landsman urged reconsideration for the remaining positions at NIOSH, particularly those involved in critical registries like the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer and the World Trade Center Health Program.
• 🤝 Secretary Kennedy stated his willingness to keep the program open if Congress funds it, and expressed openness to meeting with Landsman to discuss protecting these jobs.