The First Focus Campaign for Children places a priority on supporting legislators who stand by our nation's children. Our Champions and Defenders of Children awards recognize the top 100 Members of Congress working to make children and families a national priority in federal policy and budget decisions.

In selecting our list of Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children took note of leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation that would best meet the needs of children. 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.

View the advertisement thanking our Champions for Children.

Read the press release announcing this year's Champions and Defenders for Children.

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
These Members of Congress have made extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America's next generation.

Champions in the Senate:
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Champions in the U.S. House of Representatives:
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA0
Rep. David Obey (D-WI)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep. Fortney Stark (D-CA)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN
These Members of Congress have supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well-being of America's children.

Defenders in the Senate:
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Defenders in the U.S. House of Representatives:
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA)
Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Rep. David Loebsack (D-IA)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
Rep. Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ)
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD)
Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC)
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA)