Several proposals before Congress have been introduced recently to address the nation's widespread child lead poisoning epidemic following the tragic public health disaster in Flint, Mich.

Some proposals would provide funding to replace lead pipes in contaminated water systems, establish mandatory testing and reporting of lead levels, and update federal law to require local governments to notify the public of lead in their water system. Other proposals would help schools and childcare centers test their drinking water for lead by establishing a new grant program.

The First Focus Campaign for Children strongly urges legislators to consider these and all other common-sense proposals that protect children in American from lead poisoning in their homes, schools, and natural environment.

Healthy nutrition is an essential building block of a healthy childhood, so First Focus Campaign for Children advocates based on the idea that no child in our nation should go hungry, and every child should have access to healthy and nutritious food.

Congress is set to reauthorize essential child nutrition programs for kids for the first time since the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, which is set to expire on September 30, 2015. This fact sheets examine the progress that act been made over the last five years, as well as the opportunities for improvement in this year’s reauthorization to ensure that children have access to healthy meals at school.

The dynamic of homelessness has changed in this country. According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, 30 years ago the face of homelessness comprised mostly of single adults. However, due to the recent economic downtown, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of homeless children and youth.

This fact sheet examines how many children are affected by homelessness, causes of child and youth homelessness, its effects, and policy recommendations.

Child poverty in the U.S. remains high, with 15.5 million (21.1 percent of children) living below the poverty line in 2014. Children continue to disproportionately experience poverty in our society – while they make up 23 percent of the total population, they comprise 33 percent of people living in poverty.

Introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the Child Poverty Reduction Act would establish a national target to reduce the number of children living in poverty in America by half in ten years and eliminating child poverty in twenty years, as well as institute a process to identify the most effective interventions to meet this target.

Child poverty in the United States remains high, with 15.5 million (21.1 percent of children) living below the poverty line in 2014. Though the poverty rate for all age groups has gone up in recent years, the child poverty rate is significantly higher.

The Child Poverty Reduction Act (H.R. 2408, S. 2224) would establish a national target to reduce the number of children living in poverty in America by half in ten years and eliminate child poverty in 20 years, as well as institute a process to identify the most effective interventions to meet this target.

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 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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Every year, millions of America’s children get sick. Every year, however, at least 40 million private sector workers, many of whom are parents, are often unable to stay home to care for their sick children because they cannot afford to lose wages. The Healthy Families Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), provides sick leave for working families to be used for a variety of health reasons.

More than eight million children will be born in the United States during the 114th Congress. The decisions Congress makes about issues ranging from education to tax and immigration policy will shape their lives. Whether the next two years accelerate or impede the healthy development of those children is up to them.

First Focus Campaign for Children recommends this policy agenda to address the most pressing problems facing America’s children. The agenda is made up of six broad categories: ensuring a healthy future, ensuring every child a safe and permanent home, reducing child poverty, expanding opportunity through education and early childhood, valuing children and families, and investing in children and reforming government. Within each category is a list of goals and actions Congress can take to improve the lives of our children.

The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act, introduced by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), will establish an 11-person commission to reexamine the federal government’s commitment to Native children and propose new ideas to improve outcomes for what is currently America’s most at-risk population.