Rep. Sara Jacobs Co-Leads Bill to Better Support Children in Policymaking
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) joined Reps. Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) in introducing the Child Safety and Well-Being Act, which would establish a long-overdue and much-needed independent children’s commission to advise Congress, agencies, and states on how best to support children.
“Our country's children face unique challenges from the gun violence epidemic to childhood poverty to the climate crisis, and yet, they're too often left out of policy conversations,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “That’s why it’s long overdue to revive a National Commission on Children to solely focus on the needs of children and strategize on how to best support their health, safety, well-being, and success. I’m proud to co-lead the Child Safety and Well-Being Act to help ensure that the next generation of leaders know we understand the problems they face and we’re mobilizing to solve them.”
“Our communities can only thrive if our children thrive,” said Congressman Morgan McGarvey. “Right now, we’re seeing increased rates of child poverty and food insecurity, declining child literacy, and high rates of illness and mortality among our kids—we need bold action to address these issues. A national commission on children would help identify the biggest challenges facing kids and families so that the federal government can better support and care for the next generation. We can’t afford inaction.”
“When crafting policy, stakeholders often have a seat at the table to advise on the interests of their industry,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “Sadly, our nation’s children are often excluded. Our children are our future, and that future is only secure when they are prioritized in policymaking. That's why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce the Child Safety and Well-Being Act, which will establish an independent children’s commission to ensure policymakers consider children’s best interests.”
“As founder of the Dads Caucus, I'm committed to doing all possible to ensure the wellbeing of kids and families. Today's youth face new challenges that we couldn’t have imagined even a decade ago, and we have to make sure all of the federal policies that we create keep kids in mind,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “I’m proud to co-lead this bill with fellow Dads Caucus member Rep. McGarvey, and to work to create a Children’s Commission that will help ensure legislation on everything from gun violence prevention to education to health care and beyond centers the needs of our nation’s youngest generations.”
“As Chair of the Congressional Mamas’ Caucus, I know how critical it is to ensure that every child has the resources they need to reach their full potential,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “Our children, especially marginalized youth, deserve to lead healthy and thriving lives which means that we must ensure that their needs and best interests are represented in every level of decision-making. I am proud to co-lead this legislation to uplift the voices of our most vulnerable children and families who deserve every opportunity to thrive.”
The Child Safety and Well-Being Act would:
- Establish a 15-member Children’s Commission: The Commission would appoint an independent Children’s Commissioner to evaluate how federal policy affects children’s well-being, monitor the development and implementation of laws affecting children, and inform Congress and the states on the views and interests of children. Members of the Commission would include a mix of different professions, broad geographic representation, and diverse racial and ethnic representation to reflect the demographic makeup of children and marginalized youth in the nation.
- Represent the views and interests of children and marginalized youth: The Commission would advise Congress, agencies, and states on policies impacting child well-being, publish reports on matters relating to the interests of children and marginalized youth, examine international issues impacting children domestically and abroad, collaborate, and when appropriate, coordinate with children’s commissioners in the states and in other countries. It would also recommend specific measures for creating an environment in which all children have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
- Grant the Commissioner authority: The Commissioner would have the authority to hold hearings, secure necessary information from government agencies related to the goals of the Commission, submit policy recommendations to Congress, collect and access data from federal agencies, conduct studies on child impact statements, and ensure all reports are made publicly available and accessible to children and families.
BACKGROUND:
More than 30 years ago (in 1991), a previous National Commission on Children that was created during the Reagan Administration delivered its final report to the George H.W. Bush Administration and Congress. That report served as a catalyst for enacting groundbreaking bipartisan legislation for children and families, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and changes to child welfare policy.
Compared to our peer nations, the U.S. performs poorly in terms of child poverty and other indicators of child well-being. The November 2017 GAO report on child well-being said it best when it stated, “the long-term success of a nation depends in large part on how well families and society care for their children.”
A fact sheet is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Original cosponsors include: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR- 01), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Dina Titus (NV-01), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
The Child Safety and Well-Being Act is endorsed by First Focus Campaign on Children, American Psychological Association, Child Labor Coalition, GLSEN, MomsRising, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Women's Law Center, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Save the Children, Teach For America, UNICEF USA, 11:11 Media Impact, ACTION Ohio (Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now), Bank Information Center, Bethany Christian Services, Center for Childhood & Youth Studies, Children First, Children Now, Children’s Rights, Coalition on Human Needs, Comic Relief US, Committee for Children, Disability Rights International, EDGE Consulting Partners, Education for All Coalition, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Families USA, Family Focused Treatment Association, Family Promise, Futures Without Violence, Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, Global Campaign for Education-US, Human Rights for Kids, Jewish Women International, Kentucky Youth Advocates, Kids Impact Initiative, Kids in Need of Defense, Leading for Kids, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Media Voices for Children, Miracle Foundation, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Diaper Bank Network, National League for Nursing, Office of Colorado's Child Protection Ombudsman, Partnership for Early Childhood Development & Disability Rights (PECDDR), Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK), RISE Institute, School-Based Health Alliance, SchoolHouse Connection, The Arc of the United States, The Children's Partnership, Together for Girls, and the United Church of Christ.
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