Upon the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20, the Academy will work with his administration and Congress to ensure the needs of children and families are met and prioritized in all policymaking.
In addition to Trump’s election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. Senate, with 51 Republicans and 47 Democrats as of Nov. 9, and will maintain their control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
For the first time in eight years, the Academy will set a child health policy agenda for a new presidential administration. The Academy’s priorities to advocate and promote healthy children, support secure families, build strong communities and ensure that the United States is a leading nation for children will continue to guide its work.
Serving as the foundation for this effort, the Academy’s Blueprint for Children will provide federal leaders with the information they need to make that possible. In fact, the document already has been adopted by several agencies and departments planning their own transitions into the new administration.
Lame-duck advocacy
In the meantime, the lame-duck congressional session is in full swing, which is the timeframe between the national elections and the start of a new Congress when federal legislators who may not have been re-elected must complete their terms.
The lame-duck session at the end of a presidential term can be especially critical as the exiting administration often views this as the race to the finish line to advance its final priorities, put a halt to others or lay the final groundwork for its legacy.
During this short period, the Academy will continue advocating for the advancement of important child health legislation that did not make it to President Barack Obama’s desk before the long congressional recess at the height of election season.
There are several issues the Academy will be tracking, including but not limited to child welfare reform legislation, child nutrition reauthorization and appropriations.
For updates on the Academy’s policy priorities and timely opportunities for advocacy action, sign up to become an AAP Key Contact by emailing [email protected].
Trump responds to child health questions
During the campaign season, the Academy published responses from presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Donald J. Trump to four identical child health questions. All questions and responses can be found at www.aap.org/votekids.
Here is Trump’s response to the following question:
Children are 25% of the U.S. population and 100% of the future. How do you propose to provide for the future by investing in children?
The most effective investment we can make in our children's future is ensuring they get a quality education regardless of their Zip code. We can do this by providing real educational choices for every parent and child in America, particularly for children who are trapped in failing schools. We can bring more resources to bear on those problems if we are able to gain reforms in taxes, trade, immigration, energy, and in cutting unnecessary red tape. We can make the world safer for this generation and future generations of children and adults by recapitalizing our military and securing our borders. The future can be very bright for our children if we Make America Great Again.
