This year’s 120 Champions and Defenders for Children include 40 senators and 80 representatives who have stepped forward to make “the best interest of the child” a top priority in the Senate and House in 2019. They have all taken affirmative steps to positively address the problems facing children.

What makes this group of 120 policymakers unique is that they have repeatedly used their legislative roles to raise, lift, and move to the forefront those issues that are important for America’s children. Champions consistently pursue policies and legislation that make children a priority across the full array of issue areas. Defenders more often than most consider and take action that supports the best interest of children in a number of votes and by sponsoring or cosponsoring bills.

Others in Congress, who may fall just short of enough points to qualify as a Champion or Defender, also have taken supportive votes or played an important role for children and we applaud them for their work in those areas.

However, as Congress debates and sets the nation’s federal priorities on policy and budget matters, the lawmakers we are honoring as 2019 Champions and Defenders of Children have consistently made the “best interest of the child” their priority in making public policy decisions. As advocates for children, we want to spotlight their special leadership and express our gratitude and appreciation to them for their strong support for children.

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

If you would like to thank your hometown Champion, click here to send them a thank you note.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA)

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Debra Haaland (D-NM)

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA)

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)

Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)

Rep. David Trone (D-MD)

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)

We would also like to recognize our Defenders of Children for the 116th Congress.
These members of Congress have supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well being of kids.

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. Stephen Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Rep. John Katko (R-NY)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Joseph Neguse (D-CO)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH)
Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-NY)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA)
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)