On June 18, 2013, the Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee held a hearing presided over by Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) titled “More Spending, Less Real Help: Reviewing How Today’s Fragmented Welfare System Fails to Lift Up Poor Families.” The hearing focused on the effectiveness of current safety net programs in serving low-income families. The FFCC submitted this statement on the importance of safety net and work support investments for child well-being. It also includes suggestions on how to best address current gaps in the safety net where policy and implementation changes can be made to improve outcomes for children.

On March 20, 2013, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing presided over by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) titled “Building an Immigration System Worthy of American Values.” The hearing focused on the high cost exacted by our immigration system on families, on civil liberties, and on human dignity. The FFCC submitted this statement urging congress to reform our immigration laws so that they promote the best interests of all our nation’s children, including unaccompanied immigrant children, and protect the due process rights of parents involved in immigration proceedings.

• Related: Press Release on Principles for Immigration Reform that Works for Children

The First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this testimony for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's March 18, 2013, hearing on “How Comprehensive Immigration Reform Should Address the Needs of Women and Families.”

• Related: Press Release on Principles for Immigration Reform that Works for Children

On March 14, 2013, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the separation of nuclear families under U.S. immigration law. The FFCC submitted this statement urging congress to reform both the family-based immigration system as well as immigration enforcement policies to better protect the best interests of children and keep families together.

• Related Press Release

On February 13, 2013, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on immigration reform. FFCC submitted this testimony, explaining that children have historically been disregarded or intentionally excluded from U.S. immigration policy decisions, which, combined with increased immigration enforcement, has had devastating results for children and their families. FFCC urged the committee to include consideration and protection of children and their best interests into account in immigration reform to address these issues.

On February 5, 2013, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on immigration reform. FFCC submitted this testimony, explaining that children have historically been disregarded or intentionally excluded from U.S. immigration policy decisions, which, combined with increased immigration enforcement, has had devastating results for children and their families. FFCC urged the committee to include consideration and protection of children and their best interests into account in immigration reform to address these issues.

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.

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.

The First Focus Campaign for Children submitted this statement to the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security regarding the June 28th hearing on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.