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Press Releases
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CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND FEARS PRESIDENT'S SPACE PLAN WILL CARRY AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD PRICE TAG |
Washington, DC - Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman today said that President Bush's space exploration program will likely cost the country much more than the Administration is willing to reveal and will divert critical resources away from important domestic priorities.
"Today's speech by the President was an attempt to mask the enormous price tag on further space exploration," said Edelman. "When the President's father proposed similar goals back in 1989, the estimates were $400 billion. But even if the price tag today has been trimmed down, it is still too much. This is the wrong priority for America at a time when its children are facing so many challenges and our federal deficit is reaching record high levels."
Edelman explained that instead of spending money to colonize the Moon, and travel to Mars and asteroids, a much smaller amount could be invested in some critical areas that would make a difference right now in the lives of children. "Eighty-one billion dollars phased in over five years would provide health insurance to all uninsured children in America, and $81 billion phased in over five years would give Head Start to every eligible preschooler who needs it."
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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds. |
