It’s no secret that this Congress has largely failed to protect the nation’s children. But a few lawmakers stand out for their efforts to fight harmful legislation and advance bills that promote children’s best interests.

First Focus Campaign for Children’s 2025 Legislative Scorecard, released this week, identifies 40 senators and 80 members of the House of Representatives from both parties as “Champions” or “Defenders” of children. These are lawmakers who repeatedly used their legislative power to prioritize the well-being of children at home and abroad — sometimes against the instruction of their party leadership. See the list of recipients here.

“America’s children face rising poverty, widening inequities, and increasing threats to their health, safety, education, development, economic security, and well-being,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley. “Yet instead of acting to address those issues congressional leadership and President Trump enacted legislation that slashed investments in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — two of the most important lifelines for children — and moved to weaken or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, USAID, and other agencies that exist to serve and protect young people. That is why it is important to honor the members of Congress named in this report, who were brave and persistent enough to make their voices heard on behalf of children.”

The First Focus Campaign for Children’s 2025 Legislative Scorecard ranks lawmakers according to votes and bill sponsorships taken during the first session of the 119th Congress. 

Fun Facts

  • Female members of Congress are 2.9 times more likely than their male peers to be Champions or Defenders: Despite making up just 28% of lawmakers in the House and Senate, women comprise more than 50% of the Champions and Defenders of Children in the 119th Congress.
  • The Northeast is the region of Champions: 42% of House and Senate members (45 of 107 total members) from the Northeast (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware) were Champions or Defenders of Children in 2025.
  • The Southwest/Plains regions need to do better: Of the 104 members of Congress from the Southwest (Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) and Plains region (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota), just 11, or 10.5%, qualified as Champions or Defenders.