Third in a series of hearings on the status of Federal health and safety standards and the social and economic implications of lowering or relaxing them, this hearing investigated issues of child health. The hearings were prompted by concern that existing health and safety standards were being undermined by irresponsible budget cuts, in some cases sweeping arbitrary deregulation, and the complex interplay between the two. Testimony includes the personal views of Dr. Albert B. Sabin about child health issues, the Children's Defense Fund's positions regarding child health programs and standards, concerns of pediatricians about immunizations and nutrition, national and Maryland perspectives on health and other indicators of risk and the Federal food program, remarks on major areas of morbidity and mortality during adolescence which require significant resources and further understanding, academic researchers' attitudes concerning Federal funding of research, long-term consequences of reduced Federal commitment to child health programs, and an advocate pediatrician's views on child health and safety and the effects of cutbacks in research funding. In addition to prepared statements, submissions for the record include an article on preventive health care for children by Senator Dale Bumpers and a report of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding. Tables and figures are included. (RH)