Letters and Correspondence

Members of the Children's Budget Coalition sent this letter to appropriators urging them to  ensure a strong investment in children while crafting 302(b) allocations.

Over 250 organizations have endorsed the Child Poverty Reduction Act of 2015 (H.R. 2408, S. 2224). The bill seeks to create a national child poverty target, with the overall goal of halving child poverty in the United States in ten years and completely eliminating it within twenty.See the organizations that support the Child Poverty Reduction Act and add your organization to the growing list here. Take action in support of the Child Poverty Reduction Act here.I stand with @Campaign4Kids...

Over 120 organizations committed to improving the lives of children in the United States send this letter endorsing the Children's Bill of Rights (H. Res. 476). The resolution, introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), would establish a national Children’s Bill of Rights recognizing that every child is entitled to: Basic needs such as shelter, clothing and food; Protection from abuse and/or neglect, access to medical treatment; Educational supports and opportunities; Representation by attorneys and advocates in legal proceedings; Rehabilitative services if detained or incarcerated; Protections from...

As organizations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our nation’s children and families, we sent this letter in support of the Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act of 2015. This legislation removes a significant barrier to health coverage for young people aging out of foster care.Recognizing the importance of health care coverage for youth who age out of foster care, Congress specifically provided Medicaid coverage for this population in the ACA. This provision equalizes coverage among young adults, placing young people aging out of foster care on par with their peers who are now able to...

The First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this letter of support endorsing the Exchange Inclusion for a Healthy America Act of 2015. The bill, introduced by Representative Luis Gutierrez, would provide access to the ACA marketplace and subsidies to undocumented immigrants, including current beneficiaries of the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and future beneficiaries of the 2014 expanded DACA and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.

16 member organizations of the Children's Budget Coalition sent this letter to Congressional leaders urging lawmakers to pass a short-term funding Continuing Resolution to prevent a government shutdown and provide certainty of services for children.Over the 16 days in 2013, when the government was shutdown, programs and services were compromised and our economy lost $24 billion, causing real world impact on children.  These damaging effects are set to play out again if Congress does not reach some agreement to continue government funding.

The Campaign for Children sent this letter to House and Senate conferees on legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Act. The Campaign for Children had previously opposed the House-passed ESEA bill and endorsed the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate.

Newly released poverty data from the U.S. Census Bureau that once again shows the vital importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to America’s children. This letter, sent to both chambers of Congress, urges Congressional leaders to stop its attacks of SNAP and invest in child nutrition.

First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter in support of the Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act of 2015. The legislation removes a significant barrier to health coverage for young people aging out of foster care my removing the Medicaid eligibility restriction tied to state residency. This will allow youth previously in foster care to remain on Medicaid to age 26 in any state, irrespective of changes in residency.

First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means urging its members to extend the expiring provisions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit as well as strengthen the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) in upcoming tax legislation. They represent the most effective government programs in mitigating childhood poverty.