Letter from Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Washington)

What a great day for the City of Seattle, for the people I represent in Congress. Population Connection ranked Seattle #1 among every major U.S. city in the 2004 Kid-Friendly Cities Report Card. Getting an "A" in this course is like graduating Summa Cum Laude, because Population Connection measures data in 16 comprehensive areas, including health, education, and community, before reaching a conclusion.

Seattle is a consistent leader when it comes to kids and community. Let me share some of the reasons why Seattle has been so successful. Seattle is ethnically diverse, with a rich cultural weave of faces and voices. We respect each other and work together to build a better community. Seattle is blessed with a beautiful natural setting and a commitment by people, institutions, and government to protect and sustain our national treasures for future generations. We face problems head-on and work to find solutions, not scapegoats.

Our approach works. We're implementing effective citywide recycling programs. We're nurturing a system of neighborhood parks. We're finding ways in our schools and in the community to help our kids recognize and reach their full potential. We're working hard to reduce poverty, and Washington State has been a leader in providing affordable health insurance for the unemployed and working poor, a national model program I am proud to say I authored while in the state legislature.

For all of the blessing bestowed on Seattle, there's more to be done. On a national level, we should not rest until every child -- until every American -- has healthcare. The United States spends substantially more on health care than any other industrialized country, and yet almost 44 million Americans are uninsured. As a nation, we should accept nothing less than zero for the number of children living in poverty. As leaders, we should fully fund education so that every child has the same opportunity to realize his or her dreams. It won't be easy achieving these goals, but America excels at reaching for the stars, and getting there when we embrace a common goal, for the common good.

Seattle is a great place to live. If you have not been to the Emerald City, I invite you to visit and find out what makes Seattle the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. The pioneer spirit that built this city and shaped its character is alive and well. We'll pause for a moment of civic pride over Kid-Friendly Cities selection of Seattle as the #1 city for kids; then, we'll roll up our sleeves and get back to work. As every parent knows, raising a child is a full time job. That's true at home and true in my hometown of Seattle.

Representative Jim McDermott
United States House of Representatives