Representative Adriano Espaillat Named “Champion for Children”

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) has been named a 2023 Champion for Children by the bipartisan advocacy organization First Focus Campaign for Children. Just 40 members of the U.S. House of Representatives receive this distinction each year. 

“I am delighted to be named a Champion for Children by First Focus Campaign for Children, which works to put children at the center of our country’s legislative priorities," said Rep. Espaillat. "Time and again, research has proven that investing in our children makes them — and our nation — healthy, strong, and productive. I will continue to put kids first at every opportunity.”

"Our nation’s children are in crisis, with child poverty, homelessness, uninsured rates and even mortality rates of infants and children on the rise,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus Campaign for Children. “We are grateful to Rep. Espaillat for working to reverse these trends and for always putting the best interests of children first. We hope this accomplishment will inspire their colleagues to do the same.”

First Focus Campaign for Children’s 2023 Legislative Scorecard ranks members of Congress according to votes and bill sponsorships taken during the first session of the 118th Congress that prioritize the well-being of children in the U.S. and around the world. The new report examines key pieces of legislation designed to protect children from toxic chemicals, sexual abuse, and other dangers; provide high-quality, affordable child care; build wealth and promote stable financial futures; prevent child labor; promote mental health access in schools and address other issues critical to advancing the needs of all children everywhere. Just 120 members of Congress in total, across both chambers and parties, were named Champions or Defenders of children in the 118th Congress. See the list of winners here. 

Download the full report here.

# # #

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov