Heidi May Wilson, Senior Manager, Media Relations
ALEXANDRIA, Va., (June 2, 2022)—National PTA is pleased to honor Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) with its 2022 Congressional Voice for Children Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing issues impacting children and youth. National PTA will acknowledge Senator Booker and Congressman Fitzpatrick during the association’s Hill Day Experience Congressional Awards Breakfast as part of its 125th Anniversary Convention, Wednesday, June 15.
“Senator Booker and Congressman Fitzpatrick have supported and advanced important legislation impacting the education, health, safety and well-being of our children—and particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, youth mental health crisis and school safety epidemic,” said Anna King, president of National PTA. “We thank them for their commitment to advocating to better the lives of all children, and we commend them for their efforts and leadership. We are pleased to honor them with our 2022 Congressional Voice for Children Award.”
Senator Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013 and is a long-standing advocate for our nation’s children and youth. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Senator Booker has been a particularly strong advocate on child nutrition issues, leading on bills like the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021. He has also been a champion in the Senate around advocating for safe, supportive and inclusive schools and communities through his work on bills like the Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2021, the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2021, the IDEA Full Funding Act and the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2021.
“America’s greatest natural resource is the genius of its children,” said Senator Booker. “It is critically important that we invest in their well-being and future, which I have prioritized since joining the Senate. In the past months, I’ve been proud to introduce legislation that will address childhood food and nutrition insecurity, support the educators who care for our youth, and address the gun violence epidemic that tragically takes the lives of too many young people. I am deeply grateful to National PTA for recognizing these efforts and look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of children nationwide.”
Congressman Fitzpatrick was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 and has been a strong advocate for children and families and a champion of bipartisanship. Thus far in the 117th Congress, he has cosponsored the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 and the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act. Congressman Fitzpatrick is the co-chair of the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force.
“I am truly humbled to be awarded the 2022 Congressional Voice for Children Award by National PTA,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “It is critical that we keep our children in mind when working to shape our country’s future, especially when it comes to mental health. I promise to continue to be a voice for our children in Congress and extend my sincerest appreciation for this esteemed honor.”
Senator Booker and Congressman Fitzpatrick will be recognized during an event that will kick off the association’s 2022 Hill Day Experience, held in conjunction with the National PTA 125th Anniversary Convention. During the Hill Day Experience, PTA leaders and advocates from across the country will meet with their federal representatives to amplify their voices for the association’s public policy priorities, including youth mental health, child nutrition reauthorization, community safety and youth violence prevention, and federal funding for public education and family support programs.
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.