DEMOPOLIS-A United States Senator is coming to Demopolis this week to express his opinions on some topics that are currently very hot in the press, such as Medicare and a U.S. Congressman is coming to promote child safety and the importance of a child safety seat.

Senator Jeff Sessions, who is a member of the Senate Health and Education Committee will be holding a meeting at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital on Thursday, May 27 at 3:15 p.m. He will be discussing language that he got included in the Medicare prescription drug law that will result in increased Medicare payments for Alabama hospitals. The language that will be discussed during the meeting involves the wage index, one of the components used to establish a base rate for Medicare reimbursements to hospitals.

Congressman Artur Davis is scheduled to join representatives from State Farm Insurance and the Alabama Department of Public Health in advocating for child safety in Hale, Marengo, Perry and Sumter counties by presenting an $8,200 check on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. in the Robertson Bank Building Community Room.

State Farm Insurance will present the Alabama Department of Public Health with $8,200 for their Black Belt Child Restraint Program. The $8,200 donation will purchase infant and child safety seats for these four counties. Seats will be given through the county health departments, based on a voucher system.

Additionally, seats will be installed by certified child passenger safety technicians who will also provide education about the importance of using the proper child safety seat for the age, weight and height of the child.