A Congress in Transition

Have We Lost or Gained Key CWLA Partners?

Leaving Partners

From left: Sen. Mary Landrieu, Rep. Jon Porter, Rep. Jerry Weller, Rep. Henry Waxman, and former Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
                          Illustration by Tim Murren

• Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) lost his seat. He was a sponsor on the White House Conference for Children and Youth.
• Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) retired. He was a key advocate on the Fostering Connections legislation.

Gained Partners

• Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) returned to Congress. She is the original sponsor of the Senate version of the White House Conference on Children and Youth and a leader on child welfare issues.
• Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) is the new chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is important for Medicaid and SCHIP. The committee will play a key role in health reform and the possibility of a universal health care system.

Partners With New Job Titles

• President Barack Obama resigned from the Senate and moved on to the White House. On April 15, 2008, he became the 13th senator to cosponsor the Senate version of the White House Conference on Children and Youth.
• After eight years in the Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton was selected as Secretary of State. On April 15, 2008, she became the 12th senator to cosponsor the Senate version of the White House Conference on Children and Youth.