Washington — Today, the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national bipartisan children’s advocacy group, recognized 100 Members of Congress for leadership on issues important to children during the 113th Congress (2013-2014).

“Lots of politicians talk about kids’ issues, but few back it up,” said Bruce Lesley, president of the Campaign for Children. “Champions and Defenders delivered for kids.”

The advocacy organization recognized as “Champions for Children” 50 Members of Congress for their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation. An additional 50 Members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children.

In selecting Champions and Defenders, the First Focus Campaign for Children noted leaders who introduced, co-sponsored, and voted for legislation to meet children’s needs. 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. The 2014 Champions and Defenders are:

Senate

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

House

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)
Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY)
Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX)
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)
Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

2014 Defenders of Children

Defenders of Children supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well-being of America’s children.

Senate

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

House

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Rep. Ted Deutsch (D-FL)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
Rep. Peter King (R-NY)
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Rep. José Serrano (D-NY)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH)
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)

This is the Campaign for Children’s fifth annual class of Champions for Children. For more information about past honorees, visit www.campaignforchildren.org.