Letters and Correspondence

On December 4th, 2014, the First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives urging them to vote against the “Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014” (HR 5759). The bill would not only prevent the President from moving forward with recently announced programs that would protect immigrant youth and families from deportation, but it could put other vulnerable individuals at risk of deportation, such as relatives of military personnel and trafficking victims.

Over 750 leading national, state, tribal, and local organizations and elected officials wrote to Congress to urge a funding extension of the bipartisan Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV program). Congress must act soon to extend the MIECHV program at its current annual funding level before it expires in March 2015. The MIECHV program has is proven to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, pregnant women, families, and taxpayers.An updated letter was sent to Congress on March 3, 2015.

On September 22, 2014, the First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter of support for The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act. This bill would create a Commission to study the barriers faced by American Indian children and make recommendations on how to improve programs and outcomes for the population.

On Monday, September 15th, a letter endorsing bipartisan legislation to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that deny federal assistance to homeless children. The letter, sent to the congressional sponsors of the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HR 5186/S 2653) was coordinated by First Focus Campaign for Children and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY). It was signed by more than 40 national advocacy organizations as well as advocates in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

On September 9th, 2014 the First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this statement for the record to the House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice for the hearing entitled “Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relating to Parental Rights.” The FFCC statement highlights concerns regarding adoption of a Parental Rights Amendment due to the potential for harmful unintended consequences for parents and children and threatening to undermine the safety and rights of children.

On August 13, 2014, First Focus Campaign for Children sent letters to Representative Braley and Senator Casey in support of the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act (HR 2144). This bill allows families who adopt to receive a tax refund instead of a tax credit so that more low income and middle class families can receive benefits when they adopt children.

On August 13, 2014, First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter to Representative Kilmer in support of the Tribal Adoption Parity Act. This legislation ensures that adoptive parents receives the same tax credit for adopting Native American children with special needs that other adoptive parents receive when they adopt children from state foster care programs.

First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter in support of the House of Representatives version of the Stop Child Summer Hunger Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Susan Davis. This legislation is identical to the Senate version.

On August 6th, the First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter to Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) in to endorse HR 5237 which would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit children from working in tobacco-related agriculture, thereby protecting the health, safety, and overall well-being of child farmworkers.

First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter in support of the House of Representatives version of the Summer Meals Act which was introduced by Congressmen Don Young and Rick Larsen. This legislation is identical to the Senate version.