BACKGROUND and KEY MESSAGES:

During the 117th Congress, the federal government made a significant investment in children through the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and through the appropriations process. As a result, First Focus on Children (our sister organization) found that the share of federal spending on children increased from a record low 7.55% in FY 2020 to a record high of 11.98% in FY 2022.

Through the leadership of President Biden and many of the Members of Congress recognized in this report as Champions and Defenders of Children, our nation’s lawmakers recognized that every aspect of the lives of children was being negatively impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic and the ensuing economic recession. Children, who are far too often treated as an afterthought in federal policymaking, were made a top priority.

In the response by President Biden and Congress to the dual crises, long overdue investments were made in family economics, education, early childhood, child care, family medical leave, child nutrition, and health care. Investments were also made to address this global crisis internationally.

As an example of ARP’s scope, Congress passed and President Biden signed the ARP’s improvement of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to make it fully refundable for the first time since its creation in 1997. ARP also increased the CTC to $300 a month for children 0-5 and $250 per month for kids 6-17. In the middle of a global pandemic and economic recession, the combination of these provisions cut child poverty in this country by over 40 percent.

Unfortunately, those provisions and others of importance to children were temporary and many have expired in 2022. Again, many of the Members of Congress identified in this report are fighting hard to extend many of these critical provisions, but child advocates are concerned that Congress has yet to act and may return to the old, tragic, downward trend in the share of federal investments in our nation’s children.

If Congress fails to act, this would have corresponding tragic consequences for children, as it would lead to increases in child poverty, child hunger, child homelessness, and child abuse, and would threaten education, early childhood, child care, and health care services.

Now, more than ever, children need policymakers to be Champions and Defenders who are willing to focus on, support, raise their voices for, and attach their names to legislation that would improve the lives of our nation’s children.

 Learn more and view the report at www.ffccscorecard.org.

SOCIAL MEDIA and HASHTAG USE:

Use #Champion4Children to participate in this promotional campaign for the report, available on www.ffccscorecard.org and the First Focus Campaign for Children site www.campaignforchildren.org.

Sample Language

Honored to be named a #Champion4Children in the @Campaign4Kids scorecard. I’m going to continue fighting for policies and legislation that make children a priority in our nation. #InvestInKids

2022 proved that when we #InvestInKids, everyone wins. I'm proud to be named a #Champion4Children, but our baseline in Congress should not be what we have done in the past, it should be what we have learned is possible.

I am delighted to be named a #Champion4Children by @Campaign4Kids. Time & again, research has proven that investing in our children makes them — and our nation — healthy, strong, & productive. I will continue to put our nation’s kids first at every opportunity.

I am proud to be a #Champion4Children. Our kids face a multitude of challenges — the #COVID19 pandemic, an economic recession, racial injustice that begins at birth, a declining share of federal investments in their future. We need to do more to #InvestInKids.

Kids don’t vote & they don’t have political action committees. That’s why it’s up to lawmakers like us to make children a priority & protect their best interests. It’s an honor to be named one of this year’s #Champions4Children by @Campaign4kids.

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SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE and BLOG POSTS:

If you would like assistance with placement or further customization, please contact First Focus VP of Media and Communications Michele Kayal at MicheleK@firstfocus.org