The First Focus Campaign for Children recognized the 2013 Champions for Children and Defenders of Children on Wednesday, December 11th, 2013 in The Hill newspaper.

In just 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds, kids stand to lose billions in the sequester. Intended to be a deadline of arbitrary and unacceptable cuts that would force lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to a compromise in ongoing budget negotiations, the cuts are being used in a game of chicken with devastating consequences for the nation’s most precious resource – our children.

The sequester will cut $85 billion from the federal budget in fiscal year 2013 alone. And while the cuts will be shared between defense and domestic investments, not all cuts are created equal. In an article in today’s BusinessWeek, Heidi Przybyla puts a young human face on the budget cuts:

“The human toll of sequestration on women and children may be most vivid. Most entitlement programs for the elderly, mainly Social Security and Medicare, are protected because they are considered mandatory. Spending programs affecting women and children are at risk because they are classified as discretionary and are funded annually.”

This means that in just 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds, our kids will be cut by a whopping $4.2 billion. These cuts seriously threaten many aspects of a child’s life - the safe roof over her head, the education that promises an equal opportunity at success, the nutrition and healthcare she needs to grow strong, and the safe environment she needs to thrive:

The cuts will force 70,000 young children out of Head Start.
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The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (commonly referred to as WIC) will cut about 600,000 participants.
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Nearly 296,000 fewer special education students will receive services from IDEA grants.
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More than 3,000 children will no longer be protected from lead poisoning in their homes.
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About 180,000 families will lose access to affordable housing, and could end up homeless.
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What does it say about our country’s priorities that we have come within 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds away from severely harming our children? Already, one in four U.S. kids live in poverty, and the recession has left about one in ten impacted by the foreclosure crisis. Cutting our kids simply doesn’t make sense. As Ronald Brownstein explains in the National Journal:

“[T]he way policymakers achieve balance has profound generational implications too—and the sequester would continue a pattern in which the costs of fiscal adjustment are excessively imposed on the young.”

The right thing to do is hold kids harmless in the budget negotiations. Join the First Focus Campaign for Children in reminding lawmakers of this and that the clock is running out on our kids. Share the tweets above, or write your own using the hashtags #InvestInKids and #TickTock. And contact your Congressional representatives directly using this tool to say, "Don't Cut Kids!".

Because in just 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds, lawmakers may throw our kids over the cliff. Tick tock.

Testimony submitted in writing to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, on legislation to create a commission to recommend reforms to reduce child fatalities.

This blog post also appears on Huffington Post.

When it comes to public policy issues of importance to our nation's children, female policymakers and women are more often supportive and active on children's issues than men, even as we all continue to work hard to enlighten more men so that children's needs will become a "national priority" that leaders of both genders and both political parties will more readily champion.

That fact stood out when the First Focus Campaign for Children released its Champions and Defenders for Children awards for the 112th Congress this week. Since children cannot vote and do not have Political Action Committees (PACs) to funnel money to the candidates of their choice, these awards recognize those Members of Congress that vote, sponsor legislation, and speak out in support of children -- sometimes in the face of their political party's leadership.

Yet again, women disproportionately are the leading advocates for children. In the Senate, 47 percent of the women and 27 percent of the men qualify as Champions or Defenders of Children. The disparity is even greater in the House of Representatives where 38 percent of the women and only 11 percent of the men will receive such recognition. In total, women legislators are almost three times more likely to be a Champion or Defender for Children than men (40-14 percent).

The gender gap for children's issues is also strong among voters, according to a recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of First Focus Campaign for Children. As an example, moms oppose cutting the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in the federal budget by an overwhelming 82-13 percent (by more than six to one). Although dads also strongly oppose cutting CHIP (67-23 percent), the margin is 25 points greater among women.

This gap is most apparent when it comes to issues relating to Head Start and child care. By 66-34 percent, moms oppose cutting Head Start. In addition, they oppose cutting federal funding to make child care more affordable to working parents by 61-36 percent. Meanwhile, dads are evenly divided or even slightly supportive of cutting Head Start (48-51 percent) and child care (48-50 percent) to reduce the federal budget deficit. In other words, support for Head Start is 35 points higher and support for child care is 27 points greater among women than men.

The road we must still travel to get more men to better understand the importance of investing in early childhood education and the struggles that many families face in caring for their children while working is exemplified by last year's debate on Head Start among the male-dominated county commissioners in Frederick County, Maryland. They voted to slash Head Start funding by more than 50 percent, and two male commissioners justified their vote by arguing that mothers should "stay married and stay home with their children."

As a result of slashing all the county-level Head Start funding, low-income children in Frederick County families -- like many localities around the country -- now only receive Head Start services to children and low-income families with federal funding. However, now that, along with funding for children's health, education, child welfare, child nutrition, and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, is being threatened by efforts to reduce the expand tax cuts to wealthy Americans or corporations or to cut the federal budget deficit.

These types of trends are of deep concern to most women. As a result, by a three-to-one margin (58-19 percent), women believe the lives of American children have got worse rather than better over the last 10 years. And, 57 percent of women are not confident that life for our children's generation will be better off. They recognize that American children are no longer the healthiest, the most educated, and best-prepared kids in the world. They feel that what once was the American Dream -- the knowledge that our kids would have opportunities we could never even imagine -- is today the "American Challenge" to make that the reality once again.

Therefore, although 62 percent of women are very concerned about the federal budget deficit, they believe we should make children a greater priority in the federal budget process. As an example, even when confronted with a tough choice of prioritizing the needs of children or the needs of the military, moms choose children by 43-21 percent. For young women ages 18-34, the choice is not even close as the needs of children are the priority by more than a 3-to-1 margin (54-16 percent). In contrast, Dads choose the needs of the military over children by 44-36 percent.

Fortunately for kids, since they cannot vote on their own behalf, many women are closely following what the candidates say about children in this election. In fact, 82 percent of women (and 85 percent of moms) say a candidate's position on federal budget issues affecting children will impact their decision on whether to vote for that candidate or not. From what they have heard thus far, women currently give President Obama an edge over Governor Romney (43-32 percent) as to which candidate would better handle the issues of importance to children. However, it is important to note that 25 percent of women remain undecided on the issue and 61 percent believe that both candidates have not given children's issues enough attention.

In addition to monitoring the issues of importance to children and families, those of us concerned about children should continue to push the candidates to give us more detail about what their plans are for ensuring the next generation of children is not left worse off.

Children cannot be left invisible in this campaign, as the stakes for their future and that of our nation are simply too high.

Although children represent one-quarter of our nation's population, there were only a few mentions of children at the first presidential debate. One way to change that is to ask the debate moderators to actually ask questions about the problems facing real families with children in this country. Here is how (and men, that means you too):

Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 11, Centre College, Danville, KY
Moderator: Martha Raddatz, Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, ABC News
Twitter: @martharaddatz

Second presidential debate (town meeting format):
Tuesday, October 16, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Moderator: Candy Crowley, Chief Political Correspondent, CNN and Anchor, CNN's State of the Union
Twitter: @crowleyCNN

Third presidential debate:
Monday, October22, Lynn University, Boca Raton, FL
Moderator: Bob Schieffer, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News and Moderator, Face the Nation
Twitter: @BobSchieffer

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 children during the 112^th Congress (2011-2012).

“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 as “Champions for Children” 50 Members of Congress whose 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 health and well-being of children. The 2012 Champions and Defenders are:

2012 Champions for Children

Senate

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)

House

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Polis, Jared (D-CO)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Jan (D-IL)
Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

2012 Defenders of Children

Defenders of Children supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well-being of America's children.

Senate

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House

Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA)
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Crowley, Joseph (D-NY)
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Al Green (D-TX)
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

First Focus Campaign for Children recognized the 2012 Champions for Children and Defenders of Children on Tuesday, October, 2012 in Roll Call Newspaper.

On July 18, the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on a proposed parental rights amendment to the constitution (H.J. Res. 110). If adopted, this amendment would threaten child well-being and educational opportunities and prohibit the ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (C.R.C). First Focus Campaign for Children’s statement for the record outlines the potentially devastating impact H.J. Res. 110 would have on children and summarizes the benefits of ratifying the C.R.C.

Washington — Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department scuttled a proposed rule that would have saved the lives of 85 children every year and prevented thousands more children from grave injuries requiring hospitalization, by prohibiting corporate farms from assigning them to the most dangerous forms of agribusiness labor. The First Focus Campaign for Children and a coalition of children’s advocates, faith groups, human rights champions, and advocates for working families backed the proposal, which exempted children working on family farms owned by their parents. First Focus Campaign for Children also supports legislation (the CARE Act, H.R. 2234) sponsored by U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal Allard, that includes this protection. But big agribusiness interests and their allies in Congress aggressively opposed it. Leading the opposition were the American Farm Bureau Federation, which is closely linked with corporate agribusiness giants like Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT). In response to the Obama Administration’s decision, First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley issued the following statement.

“Children’s advocates expect better from national leaders than caving to political pressure from special interests and their lobbyists, when the facts are crystal clear and children’s lives are on the line. Members of Congress who are committed to putting children’s lives ahead of politics should overrule this decision by demanding an immediate vote on the CARE Act. And children’s advocates will continue to push to prevent the needless suffering, injury, and death of young workers and hold the Farm Bureau and policymakers accountable for ensuring the safety of all children.”

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This letter to Congressional leaders urges lawmakers to oppose S. 2221. This bill would prevent the implementation of critical updates to labor laws for children who work in agriculture proposed by the Secretary of Labor.

Our ad recognizing Members of Congress who earned recognition as Champions for Children or Defenders of Children in 2011 ran in Capitol Hill newspapers on February 14, 2012. Learn more about our 2011 Champions for Children.