Washington – Over 120 state and national organizations led by the First Focus Campaign for Children endorsed today the Children’s Bill of Rights (H. Res. 476).

The resolution, recently 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; and
• Protections from unsafe child labor.

“The Children’s Bill of Rights is an important step forward in federal recognition that children are entitled to basic rights and protections that promote their physical, social and emotional well-being. In addition, it promotes access to education and other opportunities that enhance their life skills to ensure the healthy development of all children in the United States,” said the groups in a letter sent to Congress.

Endorsing organizations include the American Federation of Teachers, Child Labor Coalition, Child Welfare League of America, First Focus Campaign for Children, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and National PTA.

The United States stands alone as the only nation that has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and lacks a comprehensive framework governing the rights of children.

“The United States has no framework governing the rights of our children to ensure their basic needs are being met. That is shameful,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus Campaign for Children. “The rights of the child should be our first thought every time we make a decision about their well-being.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit campaignforchildren.org.

Washington – Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national bipartisan children’s advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress for leadership on issues important to the health and well-being of children during 2015.

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Champions and Defenders delivered for kids.”

The advocacy organization recognized 50 Members of Congress as “Champions for Children” for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children.

In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children’s needs. In addition, the organization considered Members who demonstrated extraordinary initiative by spearheading activities such as sponsoring hearings or garnering the support of their colleagues to improve the lives of children. The 2015 Champions and Defenders are:

2015 Champions for Children

Senate

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Bob Casey (D-PA)

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Al Franken (D-MN)

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Mark Kirk (R-IL)

Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Patty Murray (D-WA)

Rob Portman (R-OH)

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Harry Reid (D-NV)

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House

Karen Bass (D-CA)

Judy Chu (D-CA)

David Cicilline (D-RI)

Katherine Clark (D-MA)

Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Danny Davis (D-IL)

Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Suzan DelBene (D-WA)

Ted Deutch (D-FL)

Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Chris Gibson (R-NY)

Gene Green (D-TX)

Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL)

Richard Hanna (R-NY)

Mike Honda (D-CA)

Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Ann Kuster (D-NH)

Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)

Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)

Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Doris Matsui (D-CA)

Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Jim McDermott (D-WA)

Jim McGovern (D-MA)

Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Charles Rangel (D-NY)

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)

Steve Stivers (R-OH)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

2015 Defenders of Children

Senate

Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Tom Carper (D-DE)

Chris Coons (D-DE)

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)

Dean Heller (R-NV)

Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Ed Markey (D-MA)

Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Brian Schatz (D-HI)

Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

House

Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)

John Conyers (D-MI)

Rodney Davis (R-IL)

Susan Davis (D-CA)

Charlie Dent (R-PA)

Bob Dold (R-IL)

Donna Edwards (D-MD)

Eliot Engel (D-NY)

Elizabeth Esty (D-CT)

Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

Derek Kilmer (D-WA)

Jim Langevin (D-RI)

Sandy Levin (D-MI)

John Lewis (D-GA)

Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)

Nita Lowey (D-NY)

Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY)

Patrick Murphy (D-FL)

Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Jared Polis (D-CO)

Dave Reichert (R-WA)

Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Adam Schiff (D-CA)

Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Jackie Speier (D-CA)

Mike Thompson (D-CA)

Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Juan Vargas (D-CA)

Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

John Yarmuth (D-KY)

This is the Campaign for Children’s sixth annual class of Champions for Children. For more information about past honorees, visit www.campaignforchildren.org.

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit campaignforchildren.org.

WASHINGTON – On Friday, October 9, Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) will introduce a resolution calling for the United States to adopt a Children’s Bill of Rights.  The United States stands alone as the only nation not to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and lacks a comprehensive framework governing the rights of children.  This is a step in changing that.

Reps. Bass, Chu and Gutiérrez will be joined by Washington area school children, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley, and other advocates who have been fighting for clear policies and platforms that address the rights of children (Background on Children’s Bill of Rights from First Focus Campaign for Children).

Press Conference Details

WHO:                        

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL)

Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children

WHEN:

9:00 am | Friday, October 9, 2015

WHERE:

234 Cannon House Office Building

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Currently, the United States does not have a comprehensive framework that governs the rights of the child. As a result, the essential needs of thousands of children are not met, and standards relating to the health, safety, and well-being of children are applied unevenly across jurisdictions.

The provisions in the Children’s Bill of Rights, introduced by Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), are centered around three core areas that are paramount to the healthy development of a child. Rights under each of these core areas should be considered each time decisions are made concerning children so that every child can thrive in a safe and stable environment. In addition, children are entitled to these rights regardless of their gender, class, race, ethnicity, national origin, culture, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, or ability.

Click here to download the endorsements of over 120 organizations.

The First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a hearing on July 7, 2015 entitled “The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border: A Review of the Government’s Response to Unaccompanied Minors One Year Later.” The statement outlines the concerns regarding the U.S. government’s enforcement-heavy approach to stem the flow of migration from Central America which has continued to put children in harm’s way and urges policymakers to focus on solutions that will promote the best interest of children.

On July 2nd, 2015, First Focus Campaign for Children sent this letter in support of The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act (H.R. 2751). The act would establish an 11-person committee to reexamine the federal government's commitment to Native children, and propose policy solutions to better serve them. If adopted, this bill could dramatically improve the lives of Native kids nationwide.

The Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act is legislation that would effectively ban the use of child labor on tobacco farms in the United States. This fact sheet details why the bill is necessary, what the bill does, and how it ensures better lives for our child workers.

What is the Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act? Learn more from @Campaign4Kids: http://bit.ly/1djRsPc
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On April 29, 2015, the First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this statement for the record to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Control for the hearing entitled “Birthright Citizenship: Is It the Right Policy for America?” The statement emphasizes the importance of preserving the Fourteenth Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause to ensure equal opportunity for each child born in America and access to critical safety net programs in the critical early years of life.

Washington – The United States Senate today passed legislation aimed at improving protections and support for victims of human trafficking. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S. 178) includes several provisions that would benefit child sexual abuse and trafficking victims:

• Stronger Supports and Increased Collaboration – Authorizes new state-administered supports for trafficking victims, like life skills training, educational and job services, and improved collaboration between law enforcement agencies and service providers;
• Judicial Training – Authorizes training to help judges understand child victims’ needs and the availability of community resources to meet those needs, as well as training to avoid the inappropriate criminal conviction of trafficking victims; and
• Victims Fund – Creates a new fund to provide supportive services to victims, funded by $5,000 penalties against convicted traffickers

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a different trafficking bill, and the chambers must now reconcile differences between their proposals. This legislative effort comes on the heels of the bipartisan Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, passed by Congress last year and enacted by President Obama. That law improves supports for children in foster care, aimed at reducing their vulnerability to trafficking.

But the Senate voted to reject an amendment (Senate Amendment 290) by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) that would have added the bipartisan Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (S. 262) to the base bill. The bill would have extended federal housing initiatives serving runaway and homeless youth, improved training for adults likely to come into contact with runaway and homeless youth, and it would have required recipients of federal runaway and homeless youth funding to serve all eligible youth, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. The Leahy amendment drew bipartisan support but failed 56-43 under a “unanimous consent” requiring a 60-vote supermajority for passage.

And the unanimous consent agreement reached yesterday, which allowed the bill to advance, did not permit a vote on an amendment (Senate Amendment 271) by Senator Rob Portman that would have added the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act to the bill. Last year, local public schools reported serving nearly 1.3 million children, but most are ineligible for help from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) because they do not stay in HUD-funded homeless shelters and don’t meet HUD’s definition of “homeless.” The bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act would change HUD’s definition of “homeless” and require HUD to help all homeless children. The bill (S. 256) is sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio). Companion legislation in the House (H.R. 576) is sponsored by Congressman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Illinois), and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa).

Responding to the bill’s passage, the bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus Campaign for Children released the following statement by its president, Bruce Lesley:

“For two years in a row, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to protect some of America’s most vulnerable children. We urge Senate and House negotiators to move quickly to deliver an anti-trafficking bill that protects kids and gives child victims the best chance to rebuild their lives.”

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit campaignforchildren.org.

Washington – The bipartisan children’s advocacy group First Focus Campaign for Children today endorsed legislation, sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island), to prohibit child labor in tobacco-related corporate agriculture. The endorsement letter was also signed by more than 50 other children’s, health, and labor, and justice advocates.

“Senator Durbin and Congressman Cicilline get it,” said First Focus Campaign for Children president Bruce Lesley. “We don’t let kids consume tobacco products – we sure shouldn’t let kids risk their lives to produce them.”

The legislation responds to reports by Human Rights Watch that children have suffered injuries from sharp tools and heavy machinery on tobacco plantations, as well as illnesses associated with nicotine, pesticide, and other dangerous chemicals. The Campaign for Children urged a key congressional committee to hold hearings on child tobacco labor last year, but the committee did not act.

The United States Department of Labor reports that the 2011 farm fatality rate for all workers was more than seven times higher than the fatality rate for other industries. The National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety reports that, in 2012, a child died in an agriculture industry incident once every three days, and about 38 children were injured in such incidents every day.

Though child labor laws protect children from most dangerous occupations, a Depression-era regulatory exception allows tobacco producers and other agriculture industries to employ children in dangerous work. In 2012, the Department of Labor scuttled a proposed regulatory reform that would have prohibited corporate farms from assigning children to the most dangerous forms of agribusiness labor. Family farms would have been covered by an exception to that rule. In an unusual move, the Labor Department’s announcement went beyond withdrawing the rule, committing the agency to not pursuing the regulatory reform for the duration of the Obama Administration.

“Congress should advance this important legislation, but reform shouldn’t end there. The Obama Administration made a commitment – but it was the wrong commitment, and we want them to reverse it.” said Lesley.

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The First Focus Campaign for Children is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization affiliated with First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. The Campaign for Children advocates directly for legislative change in Congress to ensure children and families are the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit campaignforchildren.org.