Legislative Scorecard

First Focus Campaign for Children’s Legislative Scorecard is intended as a tool to hold federal lawmakers accountable for representing and addressing the needs of the nation’s children.

Published annually, the Legislative Scorecard names 120 Champions and Defenders of Children, lawmakers who have stepped forward to make “the best interests of children” a priority in the Senate and House.

These are lawmakers who have repeatedly used their legislative role to raise concerns and demand action on issues that materially impact the lives and well-being of children. Champions consistently and actively pursue policies and legislation that prioritize children across all issue areas. Defenders support the best interests of children more often than most lawmakers with their votes and by sponsoring or cosponsoring positive bills.

The First Focus Campaign for Children’s Legislative Scorecard applies a custom-designed system that awards points to lawmakers for introducing, sponsoring, or cosponsoring legislation of importance to children and for taking key votes in support of their best interests. The Scorecard also deducts points from members of Congress who introduce, sponsor, or cosponsor bills that would harm children or take votes that violate their best interests. Lawmakers who cross party lines to support legislation that improves the lives of children receive bonus points. Unlike more general scorecards, First Focus Campaign for Children’s Legislative Scorecard measures only votes and legislation that primarily or disproportionately impact children.

Find the Champions and Defenders of this congressional session — and the bills and votes that earned them the titles — in our current Legislative Scorecard.