Danbury News-Times

By Rob Ryster

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty is among 50 lawmakers recognized by an advocacy group as a “Defender of Children.”

The group First Focus Campaign for Children chose Esty for her leadership on issues important to children during the 114th Congress in 2014 and 2015, according to a release...

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MinnPost

By Joe Kimball
10/27/2015

The national First Focus Campaign for Children has included four Minnesotans on a list of 50 members of Congress they call "Champions for Children."

On the list are Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Reps. Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum. They were cited for their "extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation."...

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Evanston Patch

By Tim Moran

Illinois th District U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston was one of 66 House members to be recognized for advocating for children by national advocacy group First Focus Campaign for Children.

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Representative Schakowsky made real commitments to improving the wellbeing of America’s children.”...

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Deerfield Patch

By Tim Moran

Illinois 10th District U.S. Congressman Robert Dold, R-Kenilworth was one of 66 House members to be recognized for advocating for children by national advocacy group First Focus Campaign for Children.

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Representative Dold made real commitments to improving the wellbeing of America’s children.”...

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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.

# # #

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.

The First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this letter of support endorsing the Exchange Inclusion for a Healthy America Act of 2015. The bill, introduced by Representative Luis Gutierrez, would provide access to the ACA marketplace and subsidies to undocumented immigrants, including current beneficiaries of the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and future beneficiaries of the 2014 expanded DACA and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.

Table Magazine

By Bridget Kevane

Some might call Sonia Nazario a heroine. Others might call her a troublemaker. Some might not like her position on immigration. Others might not like her outspokenness about the inherent problems of immigrants leaving children behind. By any measure, however, Nazario may be one of the most important Jewish social activists that you have never heard of.

In 2015 alone she has received awards from the First Focus Campaign for Children and the Golden Door Award from HIAS Pennsylvania. She has also testified before Congress and the United Nations and is routinely speaking at college campuses around the nation. This week she was awarded an “honorary visiting professorship” at the Universidad Autónoma de Hidalgo in Mexico, from where she’ll also be reporting for the New York Times on migrant deaths in the country...

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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 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 – United States Senators Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Congressman Jared Polis (D-Colorado) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) introduced legislation today to support states invested in higher education access for all students, including undocumented students. The Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for Dreamers Act would eliminate a bureaucratic obstacle for states that make in-state tuition rates available to qualifying students regardless of immigration status, including qualifying students issued deferred action under the Obama Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative. It would also provide $750 million in increased funding for states that exercise their option to make college education more accessible.

A 2013 First Focus analysis on the higher education barriers facing immigrant students. The report, Access to Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Immigrant Students, highlights the potential gains from improved in-state tuition access and the elimination of federal obstacles for immigrant students.

In response to the bill’s introduction, the First Focus Campaign for Children released the following statement by its president, Bruce Lesley:

“America wins when every young person has an opportunity to reach his or her full potential and contribute to our nation’s success. Eliminating the barriers to children’s success is the best way to build a strong and vibrant future for America.”

 # # #

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.