Recognizing Children's Week
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. JACOBS of California. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be here during Children's Week, alongside a number of my colleagues, to elevate the ongoing need to invest in and support kids.
This year, Children's Week comes at a time when we are facing critically important policy decisions that could lift millions of kids out of poverty. Over the last 2 years, Congress made the most significant investment in kids in decades. Legislation passed during the pandemic, including the expanded and improved child tax credit, which I was proud to for vote in the American Rescue Plan, increased the share of Federal spending on children by nearly 50 percent.
But as emergency measures expire, children are experiencing a backslide. More than 3 million children have been pushed back into poverty since the expiration of the child tax credit. More than 6 million children are poised to lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage when the public health emergency is revoked. Thousands of school meal providers could be forced to shut down if child nutrition waivers expire at the end of this month, leaving millions of kids without healthy meals this summer.
The expiration of these provisions comes at a time when children are navigating incredible challenges, including an epidemic of gun violence, a wave of anti-LGBTQ-plus legislation, and a mental health crisis. These examples serve as a reminder that every issue is a kids issue.
As a member of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, ending child poverty has been one of my top priorities. Children are currently the poorest demographic group in the United States, and our child poverty rate remains shockingly high compared to our economic peers. Even in some of our wealthiest States, like California, which I am proud to represent, and in some of our wealthiest areas, like my district in San Diego, more than 40 percent of kids were in families experiencing poverty before the pandemic.
America's kids deserve better, and the good news is that we know what works. The expanded child tax credit showed how much progress we can make when families have the cash they need to make ends meet. Child poverty fell by nearly 30 percent, and families overwhelmingly used these funds to pay for food and other basic needs.
Since the start of the pandemic, the number of kids receiving vital health coverage has soared, and over 10 million more students have received free school lunches, saving families from completing complicated applications that can isolate children from their peers.
There is so much more to do to support children and their families, including expanding access to affordable, accessible childcare. I am proud to be leading a letter, alongside Representatives Bonamici, Castro, Houlahan, Himes, and McEachin, in support of including childcare in any future reconciliation package.
As a country, we also need a clear national goal to reduce child poverty, and we need data to inform our decisions and make sure no child is falling through the cracks. That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Child Poverty Reduction Act and why I was proud to lead a letter, alongside Congresswoman DelBene and Congresswoman Jayapal, calling for funding in the 2023 appropriations bill to improve our measures on child poverty and family material hardship.
Investing in children isn't just the right thing to do to give kids and families a strong start. It is also the fiscally responsible thing to do.
Child poverty costs our economy up to $1.1 trillion a year in lost economic output, increased healthcare spending, and more. The investments we make in kids pay off across a lifetime.
A study from Harvard's Opportunity Insights found that the investments we make in kids consistently have the highest returns. For every $1 we invest in high-quality early childhood education, we save $6 down the road.
While some of my colleagues might say we can't afford to invest in kids, the fact of the matter is, we can't afford not to. The case for prioritizing kids is so strong, and I look forward to working with my colleagues not just this week but every week to improve outcomes for kids and build a better future.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. JACOBS of California. Madam Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman on the birth of his grandchild.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, it is very meaningful that we are holding this special order today in honor of the First Focus Children's 4th Annual Children's Week.
I would like to thank Congresswoman Sara Jacobs for leading today's effort, which serves as a reminder that we must always be mindful of the needs of our nation's children in all our efforts.
As a mother and grandmother, I am intimately invested in First Focus Children's invaluable work to bring awareness and attention to the needs of our nation's children, and I applaud recognition provided by the 4th annual Children's Week.
This week, we celebrate the successes made in the fight to improve the lives of children across the country and lament the many heavy burdens still weighing on the shoulders of our youth.
I have been fighting on Capitol Hill for the rights and needs of children and families for over 25 years.
Why are we still fighting for so many of the same things we were fighting for in 1995?
Why in one of the richest countries in the world are children still going to bed hungry? Why are families begging for affordable childcare? Why are mothers and fathers choosing between making rent and keeping the lights on?
I speak to you today with a heart full of grief, anger, and still unrelenting hope.
Hope, because what are our children if not the promise of a better tomorrow--if we can only be watchful stewards of today?
Frederick Douglas once said that ``it is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.''
As the founding Chairperson of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I overwhelmingly urge Congress--let us work together in bipartisan action. Let us build strong children.
When passing the American Rescue Plan, Congress demonstrated its commitment to keeping children fed, cared for, and supported.
The bill provided direct housing assistance and nutrition assistance for 40 million Americans, expanded access to safe and reliable childcare and affordable health care, extended unemployment insurance so that 18 million American workers could pay their bills, and supported 27 million children with an expanded Child Tax Credit.
As a direct result of this legislation, 7.8 million children were prevented from falling into poverty.
Importantly, the American Rescue Plan made the provision of safe and affordable childcare a priority.
At the age of 5 most American children are ushered into schools where they and their families will be provided with community and supports.
And yet children under 5, who have as many if not more needs than their older counterparts, have no such universal resources available to them.
How is a caregiver expected to work to provide for their family if they have a young one at home?
Each of us, whether a parent or not, has a stake in the success of child care in this country.
High-quality, accessible, affordable childcare will allow our early learning system to provide opportunities for self-reliance, agency, and personal growth for millions of caregivers--ultimately leading to the success of our children and our national economy.
I had the pleasure of congratulating a class of exemplary high school graduates in Texas over the weekend.
Before receiving their accolades, regalia, and diplomas, these young scholars had to overcome many obstacles--obstacles that many of my fellow Congressmen did not face in our childhoods.
I implore us today to absorb the impact of the First Focus Children's 4th Annual Children's Week.
Let us remember the core of our responsibility to our nation, to create and preserve a future in which our country's children can flourish.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source