SB 2017-075: Baby Box Act (Passed)

[Clyde1998]

I thank the Senator for his sponsorship and support of this bill.

Baby Boxes provide families with the basic necessities for their child in the most important time in their development - most notably, the box itself can be used as a crib for the child. The scheme helps reduce the cost of childcare for parents, a particular help to the poorest in our society.

As the Senator says, the main purpose of the scheme is to help reduce infant mortality. Unfortunately, Atlasia has the fifth highest infant mortality rate among OECD countries and places just above Bosnia and Herzegovina in the global rankings. Finland, the inventors of the baby box, has the sixth lowest globally. While the box can't be accredited for this alone, it's a major component of Finland's healthcare and welfare system.

I believe that this scheme will be of major benefit to Atlasia and would start a decline in infant mortality rates across the country.

[Clyde1998]

I'm very happy with the amendments that the Senate has made to this bill and I hope that Senators will support this bill when it comes to a final vote.