Congressional Leaders Call for Coordination on Children’s Issues

Reid, Miller, Dodd lead efforts to create White House Office on Children and Youth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, a group of influential Members of Congress called on President Obama to create a White House Office on Children and Youth, to improve interagency coordination and collaboration on the myriad of issues that affect our nation’s children and youth.

Senators Christopher Dodd, Edward Kennedy, and Debbie Stabenow joined Representatives George Miller, Dale Kildee, and John Yarmuth in sending a letter to President Obama calling for creation of the Office. This comes on the heels of a letter written by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also calling for President Obama to establish it.

First Focus, a bipartisan, federal children’s advocacy organization, applauded the efforts of the Members. “A White House Office would serve as a critical instrument to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of youth policy. We applaud these leaders in Congress for their efforts to ensure that children’s programs are properly coordinated, ensuring maximum benefit for our nation’s young people.” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “The economic recovery and appropriations legislation passed by Congress this year contains significant investments in programs that improve the lives of our nation’s children. An office devoted to improving coordination of federal youth programs will make certain that we get the most value out of these and other investments in our future, improving the health and well-being of every American child.”

Last week’s letter reads, “Mr. President, we ask you to move quickly to make this proposal a reality. Interagency coordination and collaboration through a dedicated management structure is vital to establish and implement a long-term vision and plan for the success of children and youth nationwide, today and in future generations.”

The letter builds off The Federal Youth Coordination Reauthorization Act, introduced in the 110th Congress. More than 90 national organizations, 300 state and local organizations, and 1,000 individuals have joined the call for a White House Office on Children and Youth.