On June 12, 2023, First Focus on Children started their Child Week 2023 programming with a webinar titled “Protecting our Students – A Conversation with FL State Rep. Anna Eskamani & PEN America’s Jonathan Friedman.” This event focused on the increasing efforts to pass policies that censor students in public schools across the United States.
On June 7, 2023, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D- CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY), reintroduced the American Family Act, legislation that would make permanent the expanded and improved monthly Child Tax Credit. The CTC was expanded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, COVID-19 response legislation to help working families. The expansion
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on June 8, 2023 titled "Why Are So Many American Youth in a Mental Health Crisis?” exploring causes and solutions to examine the mental health issues youth face and the need for an improved infrastructure for mental health care. Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
On June 7, 2023, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing entitled “Innovation, Employment, Integrity, and Health: Opportunities for Modernization in Title IV” to discuss how to proceed with the Farm Bill, which is set to expire later this year. Though children were not the main focus of this hearing, they make up a significant
On June 7th, 2023, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing with the Department of Homeland Security to determine if recent immigration policies violate the law and encourage undocumented immigration. The hearing began with an opening statement from Subcommittee Chairman McClintock (R-CA), and Ranking Member Jayapal (D-WA).Testimonies were given
On June 8, 2023, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D- VA) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (D-NC) sent a letter urging Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) to hold a hearing on the rise of child labor violations and legislative proposals to address abusive child labor. “In short, the scourge of child labor that Congress
The National Family Support Network released the "Uncovering America's Best-Kept Secret: Family Centers Webinar," which created a comprehensive summary of the importance of Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and Family Resource Center Networks for children, youth, and families' health and well-being. FRCs commonly provide services around parenting support, parent leadership development, access to resources, child development
On Saturday, June 3rd, President Biden signed the debt limit bill, titled the Fiscal Responsibility Act, into law, one week after he and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had struck a deal on the details of the legislation and just ahead of the June 5th deadline. As reported last week, the bill raises
A publication released by the Child Welfare Information Gateway in 2023 provides a legal overview of the rights and supports available to youth in foster care who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, Two-Spirit, or other gender or sexual identities), children who are often subjected to adverse experiences while in care.
On May 31, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing focused on the stabilization funds for early childhood care centers that were initially disbursed as part of the American Rescue Plan following the COVID-19 pandemic. While Ranking Member Cassidy (R-LA) and other committee members expressed concerns that federal funding
