WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today met with families and representatives using and affiliated with Children's Specialized Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Menendez heard stories from two families who benefited from life-saving medical care from the facilities and emphasized his commitment to keeping high levels of funding for children's health care.

"Hearing these stories - which are both harrowing and heartwarming - emphasizes that the decisions we make here in Washington matter to people's livelihood back at home," said Sen. Menendez. "As a father with two healthy adult children, I thank my blessings every day and - at every chance I get - try to be an advocate for those parents and children - like the ones who sat in my office today - who encounter medical hardships."

He added: "I am so grateful for the top-notch medical care provided to New Jerseyans every day at Children's Specialized Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They provide unmatched life-saving services for the youngest and most vulnerable in our communities."

Menendez Meets With the Ennis Family of Howell Christopher Ennis, age 7, has been a patient at CHOP since before he was born. He was diagnosed with abnormal aortic and mitral valves, a rare form of congenital heart disease and, when he was just one-month old, he received a heart transplant at CHOP's Cardiac Center. His parents, Sandy and Craig Ennis, as well as his siblings and grandparents, joined him during his meeting with Senator Menendez.

"Federal funding for research is no longer something I think about as a far-fetched concept, but something that my child's life expectancy depends on," said Sandy Ennis. "As Chris thankfully continues to grow up, we see how important it is to have Federal funding allocated for fast-changing technological advancements. I'm here in Washington to represent the children with special needs, like my son, that need the voices from their parents, advocates and representatives like Senator Menendez heard."

Menendez Meets With the Salvetti Family of Berkeley Heights

Kara Salvetti, age 15, did not develop her heart and cardiovascular system properly and has been treated at Children's Specialized Hospital since she was two-months old. Therapies at the hospital have allowed Kara to get healthier and grow throughout the years, but unfortunately she was re-hospitalized recently. Kara's mother, Linda, and sister, Allison, met with Senator Menendez on her behalf.

"I appreciate everything Senator Menendez does for children's health care," said Linda Salvetti. "It's a relief to know we're represented by someone like Senator Menendez who can be a voice for Kara."

She added: "Children's Specialized Hospital has become our extended family and our second home. My husband and I always say it took the "village" of Children's Specialized Hospital to raise Kara."

About Children's Health Centers In New Jersey & In Congress

The Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program provides Federal funds to the Nation's freestanding children's hospitals to help them maintain their graduate medical education (GME) programs that train resident physicians. Children's Specialized Hospital is the state's only freestanding, dedicated children's hospital and New Jersey's only recipient of CHGME funding.

CHOP - which is headquartered in Philadelphia, but serves much of New Jersey - was the nation's first hospital dedicated specifically to children. CHOP has New Jersey operations in Gibbsboro, Harborview, Cape May, Smithville, Somers Point, Mount Laurel, Burlington Township, Atlantic County, Princeton, Voorhees, New Brunswick, and Mount Holly.

In Congress, the CHGME program was reauthorized in April 2014 and Senator Menendez was a cosponsor of the reauthorization. The Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee also approved $265 million for CHGME funding in fiscal year 2015, and Senator Menendez signed an appropriations letter calling for maximized funding.

Senator Menendez also voted against Budget Control Act which created the devastating sequester cuts, which cut programs, like children's health, across the board.

###