Legislative Priorities
PROTECTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Representative Robert T. Matsui is committed to improving the lives of American children and families. His values demand equal opportunity, quality education, and healthcare for every child, and Matsui has devoted great effort during his career to help America realize these goals. The very first two bills he introduced as a Member of Congress sought to strengthen enforcement of child support payments. Since that time, Matsui has authored key child protection laws and been a strong defender of children in congressional debate.

Having served in Congress during an era when national political rhetoric has called for harsh requirements and reduced support for welfare families, Matsui has sought to keep less fortunate children at the heart of the public policy debate. He believes it a fundamental public trust to ensure that misguided laws do not further harm these most vulnerable Americans, and a positive social responsibility to pursue all available avenues to create opportunity for them.

Rep. Matsui knows that child well-being is strongly correlated with family well-being, and seeks therefore to help kids by improving the economic and social circumstances of low-income families. He believes that reducing the number of children growing up in poverty-especially deep and long-term poverty-will help the nation’s most at-risk children successfully become part of the next generation of productive American adults.

According to the Census Bureau, the proportion of Americans in poverty (living on less than $18, 104 a year for a family of four) rose last year to 11.7 percent. Given such staggering figures, Matsui realizes that there are no Americans to whom his obligation as a Member of Congress is stronger than the nation’s children. He maintains a well-recognized devotion to approaching all legislation with the health and welfare of future generations central in mind and heart.

Current Agenda-107^th Congress

• Provide for Child Support Reinvestment.
• Pass a Child-Centered Reauthorization of the TANF Program.
• Create New Child Health and Family Poverty Reduction Initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

• Vocational Training Complex Dedication, Sacramento Job Corps (1997);
• Award of Appreciation, California Association of Federally Impacted Schools (1996, 1997);
• Congressional Advocate of the Year, Child Welfare League of America (1994);
• Director’s Award, California Youth Authority (1993);
• Excellence in Public Service Award, American Academy of Pediatrics (1992);
• Award of Recognition , American Society of Dentistry for Children (1992);
• Phillip Burton Humanitarian Award, Japanese Community Youth Council (1991);
• Child Advocate of the Year, California Association of Services for Children (1990);
• Leadership Member, Boy Scouts of America (1987);
• Community School Program Honorary Degree, Sacramento Metropolitan Industry Education Council (1986);
• Award of Appreciation, California Association of Federally Impacted Schools (1996, 1997);
• Award of Recognition, American Public Welfare Association (1986);
• Award of Appreciation, La Familia Counseling Center (1983); and,
• Legislative Friend of the Year, Sacramento Foster Grandparent Program (1981).

Links

For more information on legislation affecting children and families, please visit the following links:

Department of Health & Human Services' Families and Children Page