News

Deseret News (Utah)Utah's federal bonus ("Utah gets federal bonus money for CHIP programs," Dec. 19) is a welcome reminder that when individuals across the political spectrum work together, government can make real progress.While thousands of families have lost employer-sponsored health insurance, the uninsured rate among Utah children has increased less than 1 percent, thanks to CHIP and Medicaid. That success happened because Republicans and Democrats in Salt Lake City put children's health ahead of politics.We know America needs that spirit of cooperation in Washington. The federal CHIP law will expire in 2015, unless Congress acts to extend and enhance...

Denver PostColorado’s federal Medicaid bonus is a welcome reminder that when Republicans and Democrats work together, government can make real progress for real people — here, cutting red tape to cover uninsured children.This award recognizes the success of Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus in protecting children’s health. While thousands of families have lost employer-sponsored health insurance, Colorado’s child uninsurance rate has dropped, thanks to CHP+ and Medicaid.That success happened because Republicans and Democrats in Denver put children’s health before politics and built a system that works for kids. As a bipartisan federal children’s advocacy organization, we know America needs...

Richmond Times-DispatchAs the federal “fiscal cliff” approaches, we’re hearing more about how various scenarios would affect politicians, defense contractors, high-income taxpayers, seniors and other constituencies. But an important group of Virginians with a lot on the line has been largely ignored: children.The stakes are immense, because the recession has been hard on children. A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Urban Institute found that more than 100,000 Virginia children live with an unemployed parent — about the population of Roanoke. Compared to 2007, that’s nearly a 92 percent increase — and when you look at kids living with a long-term...

The Bellingham HeraldBy Bruce Lesley and Jon GouldAs the federal “fiscal cliff” looms, we’re hearing more about how various scenarios would affect politicians, defense contractors, high-income taxpayers, seniors and other constituencies. But an important group of Washingtonians with a lot on the line has been largely ignored: children.The stakes are immense, because the recession’s impact on children is still being felt in families all across Washington. A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Urban Institute found that nearly 150,000 Washington children live with an unemployed parent. That’s more than a 90 percent increase since 2007. When you look at kids...

Washington — The bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus Campaign for Children today commended the U.S. House of Representatives on passage of the Protect Our Children Act (H.R. 6655), legislation spearheaded by U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Ranking Democrat Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and full committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) to improve the federal government’s efforts to reduce child fatalities due to abuse or neglect.“We thank Congressman Doggett and Chairman Camp for coming together in a bipartisan way to address the tragedy of child abuse deaths in this nation,” said First Focus President Bruce Lesley.The legislation...

Baltimore SunAs the federal "fiscal cliff" approaches, an important group of Marylanders with a lot on the line has been largely ignored: children. The stakes are immense, because the recession has been hard on Maryland children, with one out of every seven living in poverty.A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Urban Institute found that nearly 120,000 Maryland children live with an unemployed parent — about triple the population of Annapolis. Compared to 2007, that's a 180 percent increase, and when you look at kids living with a long-term unemployed parent, the increase is 320 percent.Maryland's need for the Supplemental Nutrition...

CT Latino NewsEarlier this month, 250 community leaders, anti-hunger advocates, government officials and corporate executives met at Capitol Hill for the 2nd Annual NO MAS HAMBRE Summit. Also present were the Alliance to End Hunger, Latino Magazine and First Focus Campaign for Children.More

VoxxiIn 2011, an estimated 26 percent of Latino households faced food insecurity, almost twice as much as other Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food insecurity report.An estimated 250 community leaders gathered at the summit. The organizations include the Alliance to End Hunger, Latino Magazine and First Focus Campaign for Children.More

NBC LatinoOn December 7, approximately 250 community leaders, anti-hunger advocates, government officials and corporate executives will gather at Capitol Hill to discuss this national problem at the 2nd Annual NO MAS HAMBRE Summit. Among the organizations that will be present are the Alliance to End Hunger, Latino Magazine and First Focus Campaign for Children.More

It was great to read “Mercer Street Friends Food Bank wants to send hunger packing” (Nov. 23), about local business and community leaders’ responses to child hunger. But, if some Washington, D.C., lawmakers have their way, the problem may get worse despite local efforts.The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food for more than 20 million children, and it works. The childhood hunger rate would be much higher without SNAP. Making food more affordable also reduces child poverty, because fewer parents must make the heartbreaking choice between paying the rent and putting food on the table.Some in Congress have...