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 2023. They have all taken affirmative steps to positively address the problems facing children.

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 2023 Champions and Defenders of Children and express our gratitude and appreciation to them for their strong support for children.

Download this year's report

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE SENATE

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)

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. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA)

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)

Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO)

Rep. André Carson (D-IN)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA)

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA)

Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH)

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)

Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI)

Rep. David Trone (D-MD)

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA)

We would also like to recognize our Defenders of Children for the 118th 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. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Angus King (I-ME)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

DEFENDERS OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT)
Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH)
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO)
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA)
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR)
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL)
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)
Rep. Jesus Garcia (D-IL)
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA)
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)
Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ)

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC)
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)