The First Focus Campaign for Children LEGISLATIVE Scorecard

First Focus Campaign for Children’s Legislative Scorecard reflects the votes, bill sponsorships, and other actions lawmakers took during the first session of the 118th Congress, which began in January 2023 and ran through December 2023.

During this very short period of time, our nation’s children have gone from crossroads to crisis.

This 118th Congress began with children on a high: The federal government had made significant investments in children during the previous Congress, which spanned January 2021 to January 2023 — the height of the coronavirus pandemic and its associated economic hardship. In response, Congress and the Administration made long overdue investments in family economics, education, early childhood, child care, family medical leave, child nutrition, and health care. Investments were also made to address this global crisis internationally. Lawmakers passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and invested wisely through the appropriations process. These efforts increased the share of federal spending on children to a record high of 11.89% in FY 2021.

When they arrived in the 118th Congress, lawmakers faced a choice: Continue the progress children had finally won or send them back into crisis, where poverty, hunger, homelessness, lack of health insurance, and other struggles are on the rise.

Sadly, many lawmakers chose crisis.

Now, more than ever, children need policymakers to be Champions and Defenders who are willing to focus on, support, raise their voices for, and attach their names to legislation that would improve the lives of our nation’s children. These Champions and Defenders must also actively oppose legislation or regulatory and administrative actions that would harm kids.

The Legislative Scorecard recognizes those lawmakers in the 118th Congress who actively worked to make children a greater priority in the halls of Congress.