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PRESS RELEASE: Souder Reconsidering FYCA Sponsorship

4/14/2009

Community Support Was Key – And You Still Can Make a Difference
On March 18, MCCOY sent a sign-on letter in support of the Federal Youth Coordination Act (H.R. 7004) to Representative Mark Souder of Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. The letter was signed by 38 organizations and 109 individuals from across Indiana and urged Souder, Indiana's only representation on the Education and Labor Committee, to support the creation of a White House Office on Children and Youth by signing on as an original co-sponsor of the bill.

Souder originally declined co-sponsorship, but after receiving the sign-on letter a week after the Indy Star Online published an article on March 11, he is now reconsidering. "You are indeed having a great effect," said Thaddeus Ferber of the Forum for Youth Investment, who has been working intimately with the Souder and his staff in Washington D.C. on this initiative. Ferber reported that because of MCCOY's great advocacy, "Souder's office changed their tune from a 'no' to a 'maybe."

The Federal Youth Coordination Act (FYCA) of 2008 (H.R. 7004) seeks to create a White House Office on Children and Youth, which would strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of youth programs and services by:

• Coordinating leadership and vision across departments and agencies;
• Developing and overseeing interagency implementation of a National Youth Strategy, which would determine the outcomes our nation wants for its youth and the reforms necessary to achieve those results; and
• Providing young people a voice in the policies that impact them directly.

MCCOY would like to thank everyone who signed on to this letter and urge others to contact Rep. Souder directly to request his support in this matter. Reach him at U.S. House of Representatives, 2231 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20515 or by phone at (202) 225-4436.



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