This year’s 120 Champions and Defenders of Children include 40 senators and 80 representatives who have stepped forward to make “the best interests of children” a top priority in the Senate and House in 2021-2022. They have all taken affirmative steps to positively address the problems facing children. Based on votes and bill sponsorships, the report also identifies one senator and seven representatives who perform the worst for our kids.

What makes the 120 Champions and Defenders unique is that they have repeatedly used their legislative roles to raise and move to the forefront those issues that are important for children. Champions consistently pursue policies and legislation that make children a priority across the full array of issue areas. Defenders more often than most consider and take action in support of the best interests of children in a number of votes and by sponsoring or cosponsoring of bills.

Others in Congress, who may just fall short in terms of points to qualify as a Champion or Defender, have also taken important votes or played a leadership role for children on some important aspects of policy that would either improve the lives of children or protect children from harm. We applaud these lawmakers for their work in those areas.

As Congress debates and sets the nation’s federal priorities on policy and budget matters, the Champions and Defenders cited in this report make children a “first focus” of their work in making public policy decisions. And as advocates for children, we want to take this opportunity to spotlight the 2022 Champions and Defenders of Children and express our gratitude and appreciation to them for their strong support for children while simultaneously urging the eight worst to do far better by our kids.

Download this year's report

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA)

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)

Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

Rep. Henry Johnson (D-GA)

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)

Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA)

We would also like to recognize our Defenders of Children for the 117th Congress.
These members of Congress have supported efforts to advance policies to improve the well being of kids.

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Angus King (I-ME)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA)
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL)
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)
Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL)
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
Rep. John Katko (R-NY)
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)

Rep. Al Lawson (D-FL)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
Rep. David Trone (D-MD)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA)
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)