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)

Washington – De acuerdo con una nueva encuesta, tres cuartas partes de los latinos que pueden votar en las próximas elecciones generales dicen que los candidatos presidenciales deberían concentrarse más en cuestiones de la infancia. La encuesta también mostró que el 75 por ciento de los votantes latinos considerará la posición de los candidatos sobre asuntos presupuestarios federales que afectan a los niños al emitir su voto en noviembre.

“Los votantes latinos envían al presidente Obama y al gobernador Romney dos señales claras, una: que se centren más en los niños, y dos: su posición en temas de la infancia será importante en noviembre”, dijo el presidente de First Focus Campaign for Children, Bruce Lesley.

La encuesta fue encargada por First Focus Campaign for Children de enfoque bipartidista y completado por Public Opinion Strategies (POS), una firma de investigación de opinión reconocida a nivel nacional que trabaja en campañas Republicanas y asuntos corporativos y públicos. La lista de clientes POS contiene seis gobernadores, 19 senadores y más de 60 miembros de la Cámara de Representantes de los EE.UU. POS es también el medio republicano del equipo bipartidista que realiza la encuesta mensual para la NBC y el Wall Street Journal.

POS encuestó por teléfono a 800 posibles votantes registrados (655 por teléfonos fijos y 145 por celulares), entre el 10 y el 13 de septiembre de 2012. De los encuestados, un 8 por ciento se identifica como latino o hispanoamericano. La encuesta tiene un margen de error de ± 3.46 por ciento. El margen de error es mayor en la subsección de los encuestados latinos.

A continuación, otros puntos destacados de la encuesta:

• Los votantes latinos creen que el presidente Obama es mejor en temas sobre la niñez. 43 por ciento cree que el presidente Obama, de ser elegido, manejaría mejor los problemas que enfrentan los niños en Estados Unidos. 13 por ciento cree que el gobernador Romney sería mejor. Un gran porcentaje de los votantes latinos permanecen en espera con respecto a las cuestiones de la infancia, ya que casi la mitad está indecisa entre los dos.

• Los votantes latinos, de manera constante, otorgan alta prioridad a los niños. Creen que los niños deben ser, para el gobierno federal, una prioridad mayor que los ancianos, por un margen de 59-13 por ciento. Y creen que los niños deben ser una prioridad mayor que los militares, por un margen de 66-13 por ciento. Estos márgenes son mucho más altos que en el total de los votantes.

• Los votantes latinos impulsan las inversiones federales en la niñez a una tasa más alta que el conjunto de todos los posibles votantes. Ellos apoyan por un margen de 70-25 por ciento aumento de las inversiones en los niños de Estados Unidos después de enterarse de que el gobierno federal solo gasta $374 mil millones en los niños, en comparación con el 58 por ciento de todos los votantes.

• Los votantes latinos creen que las vidas de los niños han empeorado en los últimos 10 años por un margen de 54-19 por ciento.

• Los votantes latinos no confían en que la generación de nuestros hijos será mejor por un margen de 58-35 por ciento.

• Los votantes latinos se oponen al recorte en las actuales inversiones federales relativas a la infancia. Se oponen por un margen de 93-7 por ciento a cualquier recorte en educación para ayudar a equilibrar el presupuesto, en comparación con el 75 por ciento de todos los votantes. A recortes similares a los del Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños o CHIP, se oponen por un margen de 79-9 por ciento. A los recortes en la ayuda financiera y los préstamos estudiantiles, se oponen por un margen de 79-21 por ciento.

“Los políticos podrán estar divididos, pero los votantes latinos están de acuerdo en una prioridad simple: no recortes a la infancia”, dijo Lesley.

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First Focus Campaign for Children es una organización 501(c)(4), sin fines de lucro afiliada con First Focus, una organización bipartidista que promueve la defensa de los niños. Campaign for Children aboga directamente por el cambio legislativo en el Congreso para asegurar que los niños y las familias sean una prioridad en la política federal y las decisiones presupuestarias. Para obtener más información, visite www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington — Three-fourths of Latinos likely to vote in the upcoming general election say the presidential candidates should increase their focus on children’s issues, according to an analysis released today of a new poll. The poll also found 75 percent of Latino voters will consider a candidate’s position on federal budget issues affecting children when casting their November ballots.

“Latino voters are sending President Obama and Governor Romney two clear signals: one – focus more on kids, and two – your position on kids’ issues will matter in November,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

The poll was commissioned by the bipartisan First Focus Campaign for Children and completed by Public Opinion Strategies (POS), a nationally-recognized opinion research firm that works with Republican campaigns and in corporate and public affairs. POS’ client list includes six Governors, 19 U.S. Senators, and over 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. POS is also the Republican half of the bipartisan team that conducts the monthly survey for NBC and the Wall Street Journal.

POS surveyed 800 registered likely voters by telephone (655 on landlines, and 145 on cell phones), between September 10 and September 13, 2012. Of those surveyed, 8 percent identified themselves as Latino or Hispanic-American. The poll has a margin of error of ± 3.46 percent. The margin of error is higher among the subsection of Latino respondents.

Additional highlights of the poll include:

• Latino voters believe President Obama is better on children’s issues. 43 percent believe President Obama, if elected, would better handle the problems children are facing in America. 13 percent believe Governor Romney would be better for kids. A large percentage of Latino voters remain in play on children's issues, as nearly half are undecided between the two.

• Latino voters consistently place a high priority on kids. They believe children should be a higher priority to the federal government than seniors by a 59-13 percent margin. And they believe children should be a higher priority than the military, by a 66-13 percent margin. These margins are dramatically higher than among all voters.

• Latino voters encourage federal investments in children at a higher rate than all likely voters. They support by a 70-25 percent margin increasing investments in America’s kids after learning the federal government spends only $374 billion on children, compared to just 58 percent of all voters

• Latino voters believe the lives of children have become worse over the last 10 years by a 54-19 percent margin.

• Latino voters are not confident our children’s generation will be better off by a 58-35 percent margin.

• Latino voters oppose cutting existing federal investments in children. They oppose by a 93-7 percent margin any spending cuts to education to help balance the budget, compared to 75 percent of all voters. Similar cuts to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, are opposed by a 79-9 percent margin. Cuts to student loans and financial aid are opposed by a 79-21 percent margin.

“The politicians might be divided, but Latino voters agree on one simple priority: don’t cut kids,” said Lesley.

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First Focus is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.firstfocus.net.

Una versión en español de este comunicado de prensa está en curso y está disponible si usted desea solicitar por correo electrónico a [email protected]. Para hablar con alguien en español, llame al (202) 657-0668.

Washington — A new poll shows that, among likely voters who have heard or seen the presidential candidates talk about children’s issues at all, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) feel the presidential campaigns should increase their focus on children’s issues. The First Focus Campaign for Children survey also found that 82 percent will consider a candidate’s position on federal budget issues affecting children (and 40 percent to a significant degree), when casting their November ballots.

“Voters are sending President Obama and Governor Romney two clear signals: one – focus more on kids; and two – your position on kids’ issues will matter in November,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

The poll was completed by Public Opinion Strategies (POS), a nationally-recognized opinion research firm that works with Republican campaigns and in corporate and public affairs. POS’ client list includes six Governors, 19 U.S. Senators, and over 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. POS is also the Republican half of the bipartisan team that conducts the monthly survey for NBC and the Wall Street Journal.

“Voters say they want to hear more from the presidential campaigns on children’s issues, because a large majority (82%) says the candidate’s position will affect their vote,” wrote POS Partner Jim Burton, in a memo accompanying the poll’s topline results.

Other key findings include:

• Obama Has Big Edge On Kids’ Issues — Respondents gave President Barack Obama a ten point lead over Governor Mitt Romney (42-32 percent) on handling the problems children face today. By contrast, other recent national polls show that the president and Gov. Romney are now tied on the question of which is better able to handle the economy.

• But Romney Leads With Some Key Voters — The question of which candidate would perform better for kids is a toss-up for several key electoral demographics. In fact, Gov. Romney holds narrow leads over the president on that question among some middle-aged men, women over 55, and some middle-income voters. This — and the fact that fewer than half of likely voters deemed President Obama better able to handle children’s issues — suggests an opportunity for Gov. Romney.

• Voters Reject Attacks on Children — The poll shows that a congressional budget plan, which would make deep cuts in children’s initiatives and is on the agenda for post-election debate, is out-of-touch with voters. A majority of voters rejected cuts to student loans (59 percent), early education through Head Start (59 percent), and child care (54 percent). Two-thirds rejected cuts to child abuse and neglect prevention and response (66 percent) and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (63 percent). And three-fourths of likely voters rejected cuts to education (75 percent), Medicaid (which provides health care for 30 million children and earned the support of 73 percent of respondents), and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (74 percent).

• Tea Party Supporters Reject Attacks on Children — The poll found that sizeable blocs of likely voters who favor the Tea Party join other voters in rejecting budget cuts to critical investments in America’s children. Majorities of Tea Party supporters opposed cuts to child abuse and neglect prevention and response (64 percent), Medicaid (62 percent), education (58 percent), and working family tax credits (56 percent).

• Fiscal Conservatives Reject Attacks on Children — Nine-out-of-ten voters (91 percent) reported being concerned with the federal budget deficit (with 62 percent being very concerned), and fiscal conservatives took pro-children positions on key issues. Two thirds (63 percent of) fiscally conservative voters concerned with the deficit said the presidential candidates had not focused enough on children’s issues. More than half (58 percent) of fiscal conservatives rejected cuts to Head Start. Fiscal conservatives overwhelmingly supported the idea of covering every uninsured baby at birth (70 percent), with nearly half (45 percent) of these voters strongly supporting that proposal. Three-fourths (75 percent) opposed education cuts, and nearly three-fourths (72 percent) opposed cuts to the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“The politicians might be divided, but Republicans and Democrats, Tea Party supporters and fiscal conservatives all agree on one simple priority: don’t cut kids,” said Lesley.

POS surveyed 800 likely voters by telephone (655 on landlines, and 145 on cell phones), between September 10 and September 13, 2012. The poll has a margin of error of ± 3.46 percent.

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Washington — The First Focus Campaign for Children today endorsed a bill by Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) to extend key provisions of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through 2013. If passed, the bill would continue federal tax credits for 13 million working families, affecting 26 million children.

“This legislation is critically important for kids. The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit in 2010 prevented 5 million kids from falling into poverty,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

Neal’s legislation would extend recent improvements to these family tax credits that will otherwise end in 2012. This includes preventing a nearly $10,000 increase in the qualifying income threshold for CTC, ensuring that the lowest income families still have access to the tax credit. The bill would also prevent the CTC from being cut in half for 10 million children, and would continue to allow families with three or more children to receive a larger EITC, because of increased financial need.

“More than one-in-five US children already lives below the poverty line. Refusing to extend these provisions of the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit will only increase the number of kids in poverty,” said Lesley.

Virtually all of those affected by Neal’s bill are families earning less than $50,000 per year. In 2013, this bill could save 13 million working families an average of $843, which for many is a rent or mortgage payment. The CTC and EITC also have strong links to child well-being. Children who receive them do better in school and, as adults, work more hours and have higher lifetime earnings.

Comparable provisions have been included in a broader tax extenders package (S. 3412) scheduled for Senate floor consideration this week. Neal’s proposal, however, is the only one that focuses solely on family tax credits.

“We need to make children a priority in the tax debate and extend the tax credits that help 26 million kids,” said Lesley.

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Washington – The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture voted today to cut more than $16 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), an investment that allocates 47 percent of funding to U.S. children. This vote, on the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (commonly referred to as the Farm Bill) follows a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate that rejected these egregious cuts to the SNAP program and the 20 million kids it serves, calling into question the long-term viability of the House proposal.

Research confirms that SNAP fights child poverty. This is particularly important today when one-in-five of America’s kids live in poverty. A study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that SNAP reduces the severity of child poverty by over 20 percent.

The bill would restrict access to free nutritious school lunches for almost 300,000 children through the National School Lunch Program. It also threatens the integrity of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Program by allowing canned, frozen, and dried snacks to be served as though they were fresh.

The Committee also took votes on a range of amendments. Among them, the Committee disappointingly rejected amendments to protect SNAP by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR), which were supported by the First Focus Campaign for Children.

First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released the following statement in response to the vote:

“Children today are struggling. But instead of solving the problems our kids face, this bill makes them worse. Research proves that SNAP works, and it is bad policy to reject investments that work. Congress needs to be doing what parents do every day- asking if their actions are right for kids. The House Agriculture Committee failed that simple test. Parents should demand better from Congress as the Farm Bill debate moves forward.”

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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 a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced today the Help Separated Families Act (H.R. 6128), legislation to improve the likelihood that children taken into state custody following immigration enforcement actions against their parents can ultimately reunify with their parents.

"Families belong together, and parents of every immigration status should have a say in what happens to their kids," said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley. "The Help Separated Families Act reflects those basic family values."

Reunification efforts are often frustrated by disconnects between the immigration system and state child welfare systems. It is considered a child welfare best practice to place children separated from their parents with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members. Yet many federally-funded child welfare agencies routinely reject otherwise qualified relative caregivers just because they are undocumented immigrants. Child welfare best practice also involves parents in discussions about the care of their children, but parents detained or deported by immigration authorities often are unable to participate in court hearings or meet child welfare administrative deadlines. In such cases, parental rights may even be terminated when detention or deportation denies parents the opportunity to meet child welfare requirements.

The Help Separated Families Act eliminates several barriers to reunification. It prohibits federally-funded child welfare agencies from relying solely on immigration status in child placement determinations. It also clarifies that certain forms of foreign identification are sufficient for purposes of a prospective caregiver's background check and ensures that questions about caregivers' immigration status are limited to eligibility determinations for relevant services or programs. Finally, unless certain conditions are met, the bill prevents child welfare agencies from filing for termination of parental rights, in cases where immigration enforcement is the main reason for a child's removal from the parent's custody.

"Bureaucratic roadblocks and immigration politics shouldn't override a child's best interests," said Lesley.

The threat affects a significant number of children. More than 46,000 parents of U.S. citizen children had been removed from the United States during the first six months of 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Applied Research Center reported last November that more than 5,000 affected children remained in state child welfare systems. Up to 5.5 million children - the vast majority of whom are U.S. citizens - live with at least one undocumented parent and are at risk of separation because of immigration enforcement actions.

"Congresswoman Roybal-Allard understands that children taken from their homes because of immigration enforcement shouldn't suffer the additional trauma of never seeing their loving parents again," said Lesley. "Her legislation gives families shattered by immigration enforcement what we would all want - a fair chance to stay together."

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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 a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

CONTACT:
Lucio Guerrero, 312.629.7219, [email protected]
Jen Adach, 202.986.2200 x3018, [email protected]

Washington – Dozens of national organizations joined Feeding America, the Food Research and Action Center, and several Members of Congress, including Agriculture Committee members, today outside the Capitol Building to rally against cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the proposal and to describe the impact these cuts would have on vulnerable populations.

Members in attendance included: Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

The Farm Bill proposal, as unveiled by Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) last week, would result in millions of people losing benefits. It would cut SNAP by $16 billion over ten years by restricting states’ ability to coordinate SNAP with other low-income programs.

Specifically, the cuts would restrict the broad-based Categorical Eligibility (Cat El) option that allows states to coordinate SNAP income and asset rules for participants enrolled in other programs, and limit states’ options to operate “heat and eat” policies. According to estimates, the proposed cuts would have the following consequences:

Limiting Cat-El would result in millions of people per year, on average, losing benefits – anywhere from 1.8 million, according to the CBO, or from 2 to 3 million, according to the Administration. The CBO also estimates that approximately 280,000 school-age children in those households would no longer be automatically eligible for free school meals through their receipt of SNAP benefits.
Limiting “Heat and Eat” would result in an additional 500,000 SNAP households remaining eligible, but losing $90 a month in SNAP food benefits, according to CBO.

“These are real cuts with real consequences, especially for seniors and working poor Americans – they will mean lost meals for hungry households,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “These cuts are at odds with every bipartisan deficit proposal discussed over the past year – Simpson-Bowles, Gang of Six, and others – as well as the Budget Control Act, which protected SNAP from cuts.”

“We cannot understand how anyone could believe that it is moral, just or conscionable to attempt to cut food benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable among us,” said Vicki Escarra, CEO and President of Feeding America. “It is not the American way to take food away from impoverished children, senior citizens, or disabled people living on the brink of hunger, those who are too young, too old, or too infirm to fend for themselves.”

At the event, on behalf of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, Chef Seth Bixby Daugherty shared a letter urging Congress to protect funding for SNAP that was signed by more than 400 members of the culinary community nationwide and delivered to Members of Congress today. This letter adds to the wide range of voices in support of SNAP and in opposition to cuts. In December, more than 170 Members of Congress sent a letter urging the Agriculture Committee to protect SNAP, and a recent letter was sent by the Congressional Black Caucus. Last month, more than 35,000 individuals signed a petition circulated by Bread for the World in June to Congress opposing cuts to SNAP. Last year, more than 2,700 national, state, and local organizations sent a letter to Congress opposing efforts to block grant SNAP.

Speakers at the event noted that any cut to SNAP means less food in the refrigerators and the cupboards of the hungriest people in America – children, seniors, working families, unemployed workers, people with disabilities and others. The average SNAP household has income of 57 percent of the poverty level, and 84 percent of all benefits go to households with a child, elderly person, or disabled person. Such cuts also have been rejected by the American public. Polling data released by FRAC earlier this year found that 77 percent of voters said cutting SNAP would be the wrong way to reduce government spending, with opposition to cuts crossing party lines.

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About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About the Food Research and Action Center
The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is the lead advocacy organization working to end hunger in America through stronger public policies. For more information, visit http://www.frac.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/foodresearchandactioncenter or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/fractweets.

Washington - For the first time in history, public schools reported more than one million homeless children and youth, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Education.

The 1,065,794 homeless students enrolled by U.S. preschools and K-12 schools in the 2010-2011 school year is the highest number on record, and a 13 percent increase over the 2009-2010 school year. This total underestimates the number of homeless children, because it does not include homeless infants and toddlers, young children who are not enrolled in public preschool programs, and homeless children and youth who were not identified by school officials.

Forty-four states reported school year-to-year increases in the number of homeless students, with 15 states reporting increases of 20 percent or more. States with the largest increases in the numbers of homeless students include Kentucky (47 percent), Michigan (38 percent), Mississippi (35 percent), Utah (47 percent), and West Virginia (38 percent). The number of homeless children enrolled in public schools has increased 57 percent since the beginning of the recession (2006-2007 school year).

In Michigan, the number of homeless children enrolled in public schools has increased 315 percent between 2008-2011. “Every single county in Michigan reported homeless children and youth in its public schools,” said Pam Kies-Lowe, state coordinator for homeless education at the Michigan Department of Education. Economic conditions in the state have contributed to the problem. “One school district referred to child and youth homelessness as the ‘tsunami after the earthquake’.”

Under federal law, school districts are required to immediately enroll homeless children and youth. The law also requires that, when in his or her best interest, schools ensure that homeless students can stay in the same school when forced to move. Every school district must also designate a homeless student liaison to provide assistance and referrals.

“Schools are the largest provider of services to homeless children and youth. Education is both a safety net and a ladder up and out of poverty,” said Mattie Lord, president of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. “School districts across the nation have responded to the increase in homelessness by creating food pantries, developing housing programs, and assigning academic advisors.”

“As we reported in America's Youngest Outcasts, the number of homeless children and youth in America continues to increase,” said Ellen L. Bassuk, MD, president of the National Center on Family Homelessness. “These high numbers reinforce the urgent need to increase targeted funding to public schools through the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. A good education can put children and youth who are homeless on the path to a brighter future.”

The data also shows the troubling depth of America’s housing crisis.

“The severe lack of affordable housing for families has yet to be addressed, and over one million children are paying the price,” said Maria Foscarinis, executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. “Everyone has a human right to safe, decent, affordable housing. And until we make that right a reality for all Americans, the number of homeless students will continue rising.”

Not all of the children included in the data released today are recognized as “homeless” by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As a result, homeless children are eligible for educational assistance through local schools, but not help from HUD. Congress is considering legislation – the Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 32), sponsored by Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) – that makes all homeless children identified by public schools eligible for HUD homeless assistance.

“Homeless kids shouldn’t be denied a safe place to sleep, a meal, and other basic needs because two government agencies can’t agree on definitions. This data gives Congress more than a million reasons to pass the Homeless Children and Youth Act,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the First Focus Campaign for Children.

The data released today are available on the website of the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) at http://center.serve.org/nche/. NCHE is the U.S. Department of Education's technical assistance and information provider in the area of homeless education.

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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 a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.

Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children thanked 33 U.S. senators for their support of an amendment offered today by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to restore $4.5 billion over ten years in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill eliminates. The children’s advocacy organization had endorsed Gillibrand’s amendment, citing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing that 20 percent of children live in homes where they or a family member is affected by hunger.

“Nearly half of every SNAP dollar goes to feed children, so this was a critical vote for kids. The senators who supported the Gillibrand amendment understand that one-in-five children living with hunger is too many,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.

As the recession has continued to squeeze middle class families, the need for child nutrition supports has increased substantially. A recent Brookings Institution study, commissioned by First Focus, the Campaign for Children’s policy analysis partner organization, examined the impact. That analysis found that an additional eight million children are receiving SNAP, compared to levels before the recession.

“The recession has made it harder for parents to meet their children’s basic needs, so it’s critical to keep SNAP strong,” said Lesley.

A USDA analysis confirms that, by reducing out-of-pocket food costs, SNAP is an effective anti-poverty investment. USDA data shows that SNAP reduced overall poverty by nearly eight percent in 2009 and had an even greater poverty reduction effect on families with children.

“Senator Gillibrand offered a plan to fight childhood hunger, fight child obesity, and fight child poverty – every parent should applaud her leadership,” 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 a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. For more information, visit www.ffcampaignforchildren.org.