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Press Releases

Victory for Children: Payroll Tax Bill’s Passage Preserves Child Tax Credit

February 21, 2012
Ed Walz

Washington – Last week both chambers of Congress passed a bipartisan package to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through the end of the year, an important win for families and communities across the country. The legislation did not include proposed restrictions to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) that would have cost low-income immigrant families an average of $1,800 annually, impacting up to 5.5 million children.

House Education Proposal Needs Improvement, Says Children’s Advocate

February 10, 2012
Ed Walz

Washington - U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) introduced legislation today to reauthorize the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Biggert Legislation’s Advancement Brings Homeless Kids Closer to Care, Federal Policy Closer to Reality

February 7, 2012
Ed Walz

Washington – A key congressional subcommittee voted today to pass legislation authored by Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) and endorsed by the First Focus Campaign for Children. The Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2011 (H.R. 32) would align the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definition of “homeless” children with the definition used by the U.S. Department of Education. Enactment of this legislation would make all of America’s 1.6 million homeless children eligible for shelter and supportive services like health care.

In the News

Fight in Congress over child tax credit

February 11, 2012
Elizabeth Aguilera | San Diego Union Tribune (California)

Grijalva named 'Champion for Children'

February 8, 2012
Mara Knaub | Yuma Sun (Arizona)

Children of Immigrants Targeted by Tax Warfare in Congress

February 7, 2012
Michelle Chen | In These Times

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Champions for Children 2011

February 14, 2012
Ed Walz

Champions for Children 2011Our ad recognizing Members of Congress who earned recognition as Champions for Children or Defenders of Children in 2011 ran in Capitol Hill newspapers on February 14, 2012. Learn more about our 2011 Champions for Children.

Don't Cut His Lifeline

February 3, 2012

Don't Cut His LifelineThis ad ran in the February 3, 2012, edition of POLITICO. It spotlights an effort by some politicians to raise taxes on children, even as child poverty is at a twenty-year high. To learn more about this threat to the Child Tax Credit and our work to protect kids, read the accompanying fact sheet.

Her Dreams are at Stake

November 30, 2010

Her Dreams are at StakeThe First Focus Campaign for Children spearheaded the development of this ad in collaboration with several other organizations, to urge Members of Congress to support this important legislation. The ad appeared in Capitol Hill newspapers.

Top of Our List

Half-Time in America: Time to Reclaim Disconnected Youth

February 16, 2012
Roberto Viramontes and Lindsay Torrico

If you caught Clint Eastwood’s Super Bowl commercial, perhaps you got shivers going up your spine as Eastwood spoke about tough economic times and American perseverance: “Its half time in America too, people are out of work and they’re hurting…and they’re wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback.”

It's a sentiment that resonates with a lot of Americans, but perhaps especially with young people who are not connected to education, training programs or the workforce.

Top 15 Website Resources in 2011

January 11, 2012
Bruce Lesley

As we enter the new year, we have looked back to review the issues or topics that captured our website vistors’ attention throughout the year. Below we have identified the 15 most popular resources on the First Focus Campaign for Children website in 2011. Here they are:

  • The State Flexibility Act Harms Children, Disrupts Coverage, and Ends CHIP as We Know It by Lisa Shapiro (June 1, 2011 - fact sheet)

ESEA Reauthorization and Our Teachers: Diminishing the Teacher Profession Only hurts our Most Deserving Students

December 19, 2011
Roberto Viramontes

As we wait for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to make it out of Congress in 2012 (don’t hold your breath), the First Focus Campaign for Children is advocating to keep the current definition of Highly Qualified Teachers (fully-certified, fully-prepared) in ESEA. In doing so, we will provide diverse learners and our most deserving students with educators that are both fully prepared and highly effective. Research indicates that teacher quality is the most important school based factor impacting student achievement.