When Congress finalizes this year's budget, the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Ways and Means Committee will vote on cuts to Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and child care among others totaling $10 billion. Since many employers no longer provide health insurance, Medicaid is more important than ever to children of working parents. If Congress cuts $10 billion from children's health care, millions of kids will no longer be able to see a doctor when they are sick.

It's not too late. When Congress goes back to work after Labor Day, it can make decisions that improve living conditions for all of us. After all, what is more important: food and health care for families who are working hard but getting low wages? Or more tax breaks for CEOs and multimillion-dollar households that never felt the recession? The answer should be clear. We don't need more data, longer reports or another blue ribbon commission to tell us what common sense already dictates.

Our leaders in Congress have the chance to save childhoods — and even lives — when they make tax and budget decisions this September. Let's hope they take it.

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Terry Haven works with Voices for Utah Children.