Sign-on: Support for Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024

  • Sign-on: Support for Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024

  • For too long, children and marginalized youth have been “invisible” and often left out of conversations when public policy decisions are made that impact their lives. Children do not vote and do not have a cadre of lobbyists who can ensure their needs, concerns, and best interests are addressed. Consequently, on policies related to a range of issues such as health care, poverty, child abuse and neglect, early childhood education, nutrition, child trafficking, and juvenile justice, the interests of adults are more likely to be a focus and get addressed than those of children.

    To rectify this oversight, the Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024 (bill text here) would establish an independent Children’s Commission to promote awareness of the interests of children, examine how federal policy supports children and marginalized youth, and monitor how children transition into adulthood. It would also be tasked with providing research and guidance to Congress and the executive branch about the needs and trends affecting children so that public policy at the federal level could be better coordinated and made more responsive to improve the health, education, safety, and well-being of children.

    For more information on the bill, please see our fact sheet.

    To support the Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024 and endorse the letter please sign-on below before COB Friday, August 9, 2024.

    For questions on the letter, please contact Haley Winter at HaleyW@firstfocus.org.

    • Click here to read the full letter 

    • The Honorable Morgan McGarvey
      U.S. House of Representatives
      Washington, D.C. 20515

       

      Dear Representative McGarvey:

      As organizations dedicated to the well-being and protection of children, we write to express our strong support for your legislation, the “Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024.” The bill would take the critical step of establishing an independent Children’s Commission tasked with providing research, trends, and recommendations to Congress and the executive branch on matters of importance to children and marginalized youth.

      Children and youth represent our future, yet they remain among the most vulnerable and underrepresented groups in our society. They cannot vote and do not have powerful cadres of lobbyists advocating on their behalf. Consequently, their needs and concerns are often invisible and overlooked in policy decisions that profoundly impact their lives. This legislation aims to rectify this oversight by ensuring that children’s voices are heard and their best interests and well-being are prioritized in federal policymaking and better coordinated across ALL federal departments and agencies – from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Justice Department, the Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency to the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.

      The establishment of an independent Children’s Commission would provide a dedicated mechanism to examine a wide range of issues impacting children, including but not limited to health care, early childhood education, K-12 education, child nutrition, child poverty, homelessness, child labor, child trafficking, and juvenile justice.

      An independent Children’s Commission would have the authority to conduct research, gather data, and provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers. By representing the interests of children at the highest levels of government, the Commission would ensure that children's voices are included in policy discussions and that their unique needs are considered in the development and implementation of laws and regulations.

      The creation of an independent Children’s Commission aligns with global best practices. More than 40 countries have established similar bodies, successfully advocating for children's rights and improving their well-being. Some states also have Commissions or Ombudsmen offices that help promote the needs of children. The United States has the opportunity to join these global efforts, demonstrating a commitment to prioritizing children’s well-being and ensuring their voices are heard.

      We, the undersigned organizations, thank you for your leadership in introducing the “Child Safety and Well-Being Act of 2024.” This legislation is a critical step towards creating a society that values and protects its youngest members, ensuring they grow up in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.

      Thank you for your consideration.

      Sincerely,

      The Undersigned

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