This year’s 120 Champions and Defenders of Children include 40 senators and 80 representatives who have stepped forward to make “the best interests of children” a top priority in the Senate and House in the 118th Congress. They have all taken affirmative steps to positively address the problems facing children.

What makes the 120 Champions and Defenders unique is that they have repeatedly used their legislative roles to raise and move to the forefront those issues that are important for 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 in support of the best interests of children in a number of votes and by sponsoring or cosponsoring of bills.

Others in Congress, who may just fall short in terms of points to qualify as a Champion or Defender, have also taken important votes or played a leadership role for children on some important aspects of policy that would either improve the lives of children or protect children from harm. We applaud these lawmakers for their work in those areas.

As Congress debates and sets the nation’s federal priorities on policy and budget matters, the Champions and Defenders cited in this report make children a “first focus” of their work in making public policy decisions. And as advocates for children, we want to take this opportunity to spotlight the 2024 Champions and Defenders of Children and express our gratitude and appreciation to them for their strong support for children.

Download this year's report

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

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. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT)

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA)

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO)

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL)

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY)

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)

Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL)

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)

Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI)

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA)

We would also like to recognize our Defenders of Children for the 118th 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. Laphonza Butler (D-CA)
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Sen. Ben Luján (D-NM)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Rep. André Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA)
Rep. Gregorio Casar (D-TX)
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)
Rep. Chuy García (D-IL)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH)
Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY)
Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA)
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC)
Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL)
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)