TRENDS

Abstract

WITH the war situation and the mobilization of medical manpower taking a prominent position in legislation directly affecting the medical profession, very few of the unprecedented number of health bills introduced into the 81st Congress have been enacted into law. But one piece of legislation which has been passed is of particular interest to the pediatric group since it provides for a large expansion in the grant-in-aid program of the Children's Bureau. The 1950 amendment to the Social Security Act (H.R. 6000) has nearly doubled the federal funds available for maternal and child health services, crippled children's services, and child welfare services. The remarkable growth in this program is brought into clear focus by the increases which have been made in the allocations to the Children's Bureau since the enactment of the Social Security Act in 1935. Under the provisions of the original act an annual budget of $8.17 million was allocated for grants-in-aid; $3.8 million for maternal and child health services, $2.87 million for crippled children's services, and $1.5 million for child welfare services. Each of these categories was increased in 1939 to a total of $11 million, increased again in 1946 to a total of $22 million and now to $41.5 million.