Letters and Correspondence
Senate Immigration Floor Debate Advocates
More than 100 advocates joined the First Focus Campaign for Children in urging members of the U.S. Senate to protect critical elements of immigration reform legislation for children. The letter also urges senators to adopt amendments that would improve the bill's outcomes for kids and reject harmful amendments.
ESEA Reauthorization to Senate HELP
On June 11, 2013, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will consider two different proposals for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, commonly referred to as “No Child Left Behind.” This letter to HELP Committee members looks at the positives and negatives of the Strengthening America’s Schools Act authored by HELP Chairman Senator Tom Harkin and the Every Child Ready for College and Career Act authored by HELP Ranking Member Senator Lamar Alexander.
In Support of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act
This letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Senate Minority Leader McConnell on behalf of a collection of national advocacy organizations concerned about the well-being of children and youth in the United States to articulate our support for the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act (S. 689), and to ask for a final Senate floor vote to be scheduled for this legislation so it can progress to the House.
Foster Children Opportunity Act Endorsement
The First Focus Campaign for Children coordinated more than 175 national and state organizations in support of the Foster Children Opportunity Act, sponsored by Congressman Beto O'Rourke (D-TX). The bill would improve the effectiveness of immigration law protections already available to immigrant children who are child abuse or neglect victims.
Immigration Public Charge Amendments to Senate Judiciary Committee
A letter from FFCC president Bruce Lesley urging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject amendments to S.744 that redefine or alter the application of “public charge” in a way that negatively impacts children.
Farm Bill to House Ag Committee
First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter on May 14, 2013 to Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson in regards to the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee markup of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARRM) which proposes to cut nutrition programs by $21 billion through cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the SNAP-Education program. The FARRM bill also proposes to change the integrity of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
Farm Bill to Senate Ag Committee
First Focus Campaign for Children sent a letter on May 14, 2013 to Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Thad Cochran in regards to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee markup of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 which proposes to cut nutrition programs by $4.1 billion through cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Despite these cuts the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 protects the SNAP-Education program, as well as the funding and structure for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable...
Kids Need Investments, Not Flexibility
This letter was sent to Senators urging them to reject flexibility and undo sequestration. These harmful cuts have resulted in the loss of over $4 billion to investments that matter to children.
Equal Access to Quality Education Act Endorsement
This letter to Congresswoman Judy Chu expresses the support of the Coalition for Teaching Quality for the Equal Access to Quality Education Act of 2013. The coalition is comprised of over 90 organizations dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to highly qualified teachers. As organizations concerned with promoting educational quality and equity, particularly for students who have traditionally been least well served by our educational system, the coalition is deeply committed to the development of well-prepared and effective teachers for all communities and to...
Congressional- Protect Children
Representative Danny Davis and 51 other members of the House of Representatives signed a letter asking the President and Congressional leadership to hold kids harmless in pending budget decisions. With votes upcoming on funding the government for the remainder of this year and next, sequestration, and the debt ceiling, kids have a lot at stake.