Letters and Correspondence

First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, & Related Agencies, & Related Agencies on May 20, 2014. This letter urges lawmakers to fully fund child nutrition programs inclduing the School Meals Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This letter also asked that Congress reject efforts to use the appropriations process to change or weaken federal child nutrition...

On March 21, 2014 First Focus Campaign for Children joined national partners to send letters to Congressional leaders and Secretary Tom Vilsack of the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the WIC food package and the release of the Final Rule on Revisions to the WIC Food Packages.

First Focus Campaign for Children joined national partners to send a letter to the United States Senate and House appropriators on May 14, 2014. The letter urges lawmakers to fully fund the WIC program and asks that Congress protect the scientific integrity of the WIC food package.

The At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act would ensure that that program eligibility for youth enrolled in a Medicaid program prior to incarceration is not terminated upon entering a residential facility. This bill proposes “suspending” coverage so that upon release, eligibility benefits can be restored to youth. 70% of youth in the juvenile system suffer from a mental disorder and have a higher than average rate of substance abuse. It is vital that they have access to healthcare upon release to reduce their chance of recidivism.

First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter to all offices in the House of Representatives on May 8th, 2014, in advance of floor consideration of the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act (H.R.10). While we are encouraged to see the bipartisan work in the House of Representatives on behalf of children, this bill can be greatly improved to improve educational outcomes for children. The letter includes a list of amendments that FFCC urges members to support, including amendments to improve financial oversight and reduce...

Strong Start HELP Letter This letter, sent to members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on May 13, 2014, urges them to vote to pass the Strong Start for America’s Children Act (S. 1697) out of committee with no significant changes. The letter outlines the numerous ways the bill would benefit children, why the federal government should invest in early education now, and important provisions of the legislation that should remain unchanged.

This letter was sent to Congressman Dave Reichert’s office in support of his Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act (H.R. 4058). The bill offers provisions for identification and screening of youth who come into contact with child welfare programs, collecting better data on foster youth, bolstering supports for foster families, and providing documents for youth leaving the child welfare system. It also cautions that foster children's vulnerability will increase if requirements for provision of Social Security cards, health records, and other basic...

This letter, signed by 117 national and state organizations, urges congressional leadership to support President Obama’s FY15 budget proposal to allocate $750 million (over 5 years) to ACF/CMS to reduce the over-prescription of psychotropic medication to foster children. Children in foster care are four times as likely as other children to be prescribed medication to address their mental and behavioral health needs. The proposed funds would give states the capacity to improve their mental and health programs for foster children so that medication is prescribed only when...

Twenty member organizations of the Children's Budget Coalition signed a letter to House and Senate Appropriators calling for the highest level of investments for children in the Fiscal Year 2015 appropriation bills. Annual appropriations for investments for children are now less than they were in 2007, prior to the Great Recession.

The First Focus Campaign for Children urges members of the House of Representatives to vote No on the House Continuing Resolution 96, the Fiscal Year 2015 budget as reported by the House Budget Committee. This budget cuts hundreds of billions of dollars in investments for children and will harm child well-being.