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Though it may seem hard to believe, it took America's lawmakers some 110 years before they crafted legislation aimed at protecting the welfare of children. Eventually, laws were passed to aid and protect children. This ideal student reference examines and explains in detail 20 such laws that have affected America's youth in various ways. A discussion of the history and impact of each law is followed by a carefully edited version of the law itself. Examples include the National School Lunch Act, which provided free or reduced-cost meals to young students; the Uniform Drinking Age Act, which set the national drinking age at 21; the Fair Labor Standard Act, the first successful federal attempt to regulate child labor; and the Selective Service Act, which required young men to register for the draft.The landmark laws are divided into three parts: Health and Welfare Laws, Citizenship and Democratic Participation Laws, and Education Laws. The laws are organized chronologically within each section. An introductory overview examines the history of children's issues in federal legislation and explores reform movements and the advocacy of children's concerns. The introduction also makes manifestly clear that students are not an unempowered constituency, and have ample opportunities to make their voices heard. A timeline and appendix will also aid student research, making this volume an indispensable guide to America's laws concerning its young people.
E-Book Content
STUDENT'S GUIDE TO LANDMARK CONGRESSIONAL LAWS
ON YOUTH
Recent Titles in Student's Guide to Landmark Congressional Laws Student's Guide to Landmark Congressional Laws on Education David Carleton Student's Guide to Landmark Congressional Laws on the First Amendment Clyde E. Willis
STUDENT'S GUIDE TO LANDMARK CONGRESSIONAL LAWS
ON YOUTH KATHLEEN URADNIK
STUDENT'S GUIDE TO LANDMARK CONGRESSIONAL LAWS John R. Vile, Series Editor
Greenwood Press Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Uradnik, Kathleen Ann. Student's guide to landmark congressional laws on youth / Kathleen Uradnik. p. cm.—(Student's guide to landmark congressional laws, ISSN 1537-3150) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-313-31461-6 (alk. paper) 1. Children—Legal status, laws, etc.—United States. 2. Youth—Legal status, laws, etc.—United States. I. Title: Landmark congressional laws on youth. II. Title. III. Series. KF3735.U73 2002 346.730V35—dc21 2001055613 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2002 by Kathleen Uradnik All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001055613 ISBN: 0-313-31461-6 ISSN: 1537-3150 First published in 2002 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984). 10
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For Sona and Maya
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Contents Series Forward by John R. Vile ix Acknowledgments Timeline for Enactment of Laws
xiii xv
Introduction: What Has Congress Done for YOUth Lately? 1 Part I: Health and Welfare Laws
21
1.
Social Security Act (1935)
23
2.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (1938)
33
3.
National School Lunch Act (1946) and Child Nutrition Act (1966)
43
4.
Medicaid (1965) and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Children (EPSDT) (1967 and 1989) 55