American Academy of Pediatrics Federal Advocacy

06/24/2022

The AAP this morning reaffirmed our longstanding policy supporting adolescents’ right to access comprehensive, evidence-based reproductive healthcare services, including abortion. Today’s ruling means that in many places in the United States, this evidence-based care will be difficult or impossible to access, threatening the health and safety of our patients and jeopardizing the patient-physician relationship.

Statement from Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics on Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

03/29/2022

“We can’t allow Big To***co to addict yet another generation of kids.” Dr. Brian Jenssen, member of AAP’s Section on Ni****ne and To***co Use, and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prohibit flavored ci**rs and menthol ci******es in a The Philadelphia Tribune op-ed.

Grape. Cherry Dynamite. Tropical Twist. These aren’t juices you can pick up at the corner store. It may be hard to believe, but these are flavors of ci**rs and cigarillos

03/21/2022

“Pediatricians are so much more than doctors. You're healers, teachers, counselors. You're lifelines for parents.” First Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined Conference to share an inspiring message about the powerful role pediatricians play in the lives of their patients.

First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden addresses pediatricians and attendees of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2022 Advocacy Conference.

02/11/2022

The AAP Advocacy Conference is going virtual this year on March 20-22, 2022. Pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, and pediatric trainees from across the country will attend advocacy skills-building workshops, hear from distinguished guest speakers and learn about policy priorities impacting children. Join us and learn how to be a strong advocate for children's health!

The scholarship deadline to attend the conference has been extended to Sunday, February 13, at 11:59 pm CST. Apply now:

The American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Conference will take place virtually March 20-22, 2022. Join us and learn how to be a strong advocate

11/19/2021

Today's passage of the Build Back Better Act in the U.S. House of Representatives marks both significant progress and promise for child health. With comprehensive policies like paid family and medical leave and improvements to children's health care coverage, the legislation prioritizes the health of children and families and provides the support they need to thrive.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging the U.S. Senate to maintain all of these strong provisions and advance this landmark legislation without delay. Children are counting on us, and it is time we act. Read the full statement here:

Today's passage of the Build Back Better Act in the U.S. House of Representatives marks both significant progress and promise for child health

10/08/2021

“Without continuous coverage, children’s health needs are less likely to be met and they end up missing school, and families living paycheck to paycheck incur medical debt or have to go without care.” All children deserve access to reliable health care coverage. More in Georgetown University Center for Children and Families: https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2021/10/08/why-is-medicaid-chip-continuous-eligibility-so-important-for-kids

As readers of SayAhhh! know, the number of uninsured kids was going down for many years, but during the Trump administration starting going back up – rising to 5.7 percent child uninsured rate in 2…

09/10/2021

"By today, U.S. Food and Drug Administration was required to take action on e-ci******es, but the agency failed to meaningfully do so. Children and teens will suffer the consequence of FDA’s inaction." Read American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Lee Savio Beers' full statement here:

“By today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was required to take action on e-ci******es, but the agency failed to meaningfully do so. Children and teens will suffer the consequence of FDA’s inaction.

09/08/2021

"The AAP applauds the policy that will provide children, families and caregivers across the country with the comprehensive support, security and stability they need through 12 weeks of paid leave for parental, medical, and caregiving reasons. Now is the moment to advance this policy into law.” Read our full statement here:

The American Academy of Pediatrics applauds the policy unveiled today that will provide children, families and caregivers across the country with the comprehensive support, security and stability they need through 12 weeks of paid leave for parental, medical, and caregiving reasons. Now is the momen...

08/30/2021

In a new statement, American Academy of Pediatrics and other health groups collectively endorse a minimum age of at least 12 years for children to be processed in the juvenile justice system.

AAP and other health groups collectively endorse action to institute a minimum age of at least 12 years for juvenile justice system jurisdiction.

08/16/2021

SNAP helps families afford healthy, nutritious foods, but the current benefits haven’t been enough to fully cover the costs. We applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture for updating the Thrifty Food Plan to increase SNAP benefits and better support families.

WASHINGTON, August 16, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pan...

08/06/2021

Over the next six weeks, more than 50 million students will head back to school, and more than 20 million students will return to undergraduate and graduate studies. For young people, getting vaccinated right away is the best way back to the things they love – like playing sports, completing their...

08/02/2021

The American Academy of Pediatrics created a toolkit for pediatricians to learn more about its gun violence prevention advocacy efforts and opportunities to add their voice to this work.
Get the latest updates in this month's Washington Report:

The Academy has been tracking the cases heard at the highest court as well as those being considered in lower courts across the country and weighing in through its judicial advocacy.