[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5603-H5604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING CHILDREN'S WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Jacobs) for 30 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACOBS of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my 
Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  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

[[Page H5604]]

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).
  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak as a father and a 
new and excited grandfather to advocate for a country that is dedicated 
to helping all of its children thrive.
  As a scientist, I recognize that one of the most important issues our 
children face is the fragility of children's brain development. Early 
brain development in children lays the foundation for their success in 
adulthood. During the first few years of life, millions of new neural 
connections are formed every second. It is during this time that the 
brain is the most flexible but also the most vulnerable to the 
environment around it.
  Polluted environments, chronic stress, extreme poverty, or repeated 
abuse are toxic for brain development, and this has a lasting negative 
impact on a child's success in life.
  It is important to continue research on the impact of children's 
environment on early brain development and then to take action to 
provide early intervention services for children whose brain 
development is at risk.
  In fact, as Representative Jacobs mentioned, early childhood 
intervention has one of the highest returns on investment of any 
investment that our country can make.
  Although my grandson is growing up in a supportive, loving, and 
hopefully chemically nontoxic environment, I recognize that many 
children in the United States are not. But I remain hopeful that we 
will continue to combat the challenges that all of our children face 
and continue to provide them with the best future possible.
  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.

                          ____________________