Bruce Lesley
@brucelesley.bsky.social
Proud father of 4. Child advocate. President of First Focus on Children & First Focus Campaign for Children. Basketball fanatic. Kids Can't Wait on Substack. #InvestInKids #VoteKids
It would be nice if the Administration running the federal agency that is particularly focused on children would not treat their jobs and work as a complete joke.
Can you imagine if the VA posted on Facebook like this?
Can you imagine if the VA posted on Facebook like this?
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It would be nice if the Administration running the federal agency that is particularly focused on children would not treat their jobs and work as a complete joke.
Can you imagine if the VA posted on Facebook like this?
Can you imagine if the VA posted on Facebook like this?
This Is What Censorship Looks Like in a National Park: The First Park Sign That Came Down medium.com/@elizabethmi...
September 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This Is What Censorship Looks Like in a National Park: The First Park Sign That Came Down medium.com/@elizabethmi...
❌ This Administration is overseeing $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and CHIP and an estimated 10 million losing health coverage.
In a twisted way, I guess you can proclaim that is “historic and unprecedented.” (4)
In a twisted way, I guess you can proclaim that is “historic and unprecedented.” (4)
September 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
❌ This Administration is overseeing $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and CHIP and an estimated 10 million losing health coverage.
In a twisted way, I guess you can proclaim that is “historic and unprecedented.” (4)
In a twisted way, I guess you can proclaim that is “historic and unprecedented.” (4)
✅ The implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which greatly reduced the uninsured rate for adults (3)
September 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
✅ The implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which greatly reduced the uninsured rate for adults (3)
✅ The creation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which was led by Kennedy’s uncle in the Senate and has played a key role in cutting the uninsured rate for children from 15% to 6% today (2)
September 10, 2025 at 11:22 AM
✅ The creation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which was led by Kennedy’s uncle in the Senate and has played a key role in cutting the uninsured rate for children from 15% to 6% today (2)
Previous HHS secretaries oversaw:
✅ The creation of Medicare and Medicaid, which was passed with the help of Secretary Kennedy’s father and uncle in the Senate (significantly cutting the uninsured rate for all Americans, particularly senior citizens) (1)
✅ The creation of Medicare and Medicaid, which was passed with the help of Secretary Kennedy’s father and uncle in the Senate (significantly cutting the uninsured rate for all Americans, particularly senior citizens) (1)
September 10, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Previous HHS secretaries oversaw:
✅ The creation of Medicare and Medicaid, which was passed with the help of Secretary Kennedy’s father and uncle in the Senate (significantly cutting the uninsured rate for all Americans, particularly senior citizens) (1)
✅ The creation of Medicare and Medicaid, which was passed with the help of Secretary Kennedy’s father and uncle in the Senate (significantly cutting the uninsured rate for all Americans, particularly senior citizens) (1)
The leading cause of death in children is firearms.
Politicians, do something!
Politicians, do something!
August 30, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The leading cause of death in children is firearms.
Politicians, do something!
Politicians, do something!
The difference between the Child Tax Credit introduced by @delauro.house.gov (on the left) and included in OBBB is night and day (on the right).
It isn’t even close.
It isn’t even close.
August 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The difference between the Child Tax Credit introduced by @delauro.house.gov (on the left) and included in OBBB is night and day (on the right).
It isn’t even close.
It isn’t even close.
An expanded and fully refundable Child Tax Credit is supported by an overwhelming 83-11% margin.
It would also correct a problem where having a baby, victims of natural disasters, and South Carolina kids are disproportionately “left behind” and often only receive a partial or no Child Tax Credit.
It would also correct a problem where having a baby, victims of natural disasters, and South Carolina kids are disproportionately “left behind” and often only receive a partial or no Child Tax Credit.
August 8, 2025 at 12:19 PM
An expanded and fully refundable Child Tax Credit is supported by an overwhelming 83-11% margin.
It would also correct a problem where having a baby, victims of natural disasters, and South Carolina kids are disproportionately “left behind” and often only receive a partial or no Child Tax Credit.
It would also correct a problem where having a baby, victims of natural disasters, and South Carolina kids are disproportionately “left behind” and often only receive a partial or no Child Tax Credit.
The disaster for children from this vote is immense and will last for years, if not decades. open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...
July 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The disaster for children from this vote is immense and will last for years, if not decades. open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...
H.R. 1 Puts Children Last
July 2, 2025 at 3:32 PM
H.R. 1 Puts Children Last
J.D. Vance Dismisses Kicking Millions Off Medicaid: 'Minutiae' - Rolling Stone www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Here is the chart on the “minutiae.”
Here is the chart on the “minutiae.”
July 2, 2025 at 12:55 PM
J.D. Vance Dismisses Kicking Millions Off Medicaid: 'Minutiae' - Rolling Stone www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Here is the chart on the “minutiae.”
Here is the chart on the “minutiae.”
This is all consistent with the recommendations by the National Commission on Children, which was established under President Reagan and issued its final report to President Bush in 1991 — 34 years ago.
It is well past time to do right by our nation’s children. (10)
It is well past time to do right by our nation’s children. (10)
July 1, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This is all consistent with the recommendations by the National Commission on Children, which was established under President Reagan and issued its final report to President Bush in 1991 — 34 years ago.
It is well past time to do right by our nation’s children. (10)
It is well past time to do right by our nation’s children. (10)
In an April 2025 poll, the American people, by an 83-11% margin, overwhelmingly supported making the Child Tax Credit fully refundable to help all children and cut child poverty. (9)
July 1, 2025 at 7:04 AM
In an April 2025 poll, the American people, by an 83-11% margin, overwhelmingly supported making the Child Tax Credit fully refundable to help all children and cut child poverty. (9)
H.R. 1 also kicks more than 2M U.S. citizen children off the Child Tax Credit because their parent or caregiver lacks a Social Security number.
These U.S. citizen children, who are also part of our future, have qualified for the CTC since 2017 would be newly cut off and harmed in H.R. 1. (8)
These U.S. citizen children, who are also part of our future, have qualified for the CTC since 2017 would be newly cut off and harmed in H.R. 1. (8)
July 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
H.R. 1 also kicks more than 2M U.S. citizen children off the Child Tax Credit because their parent or caregiver lacks a Social Security number.
These U.S. citizen children, who are also part of our future, have qualified for the CTC since 2017 would be newly cut off and harmed in H.R. 1. (8)
These U.S. citizen children, who are also part of our future, have qualified for the CTC since 2017 would be newly cut off and harmed in H.R. 1. (8)
Who are the other children who are “left behind” because their parents or parents make “too little”?
They include… (7)
They include… (7)
July 1, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Who are the other children who are “left behind” because their parents or parents make “too little”?
They include… (7)
They include… (7)
There are also kids who have a parent die and are more likely to lose their Child Tax Credit due to loss of income.
Again, kids w/ greatest need get the least.
Nearly 3M children have experienced death of a parent or caregiver in the U.S. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/ja... (6)
Again, kids w/ greatest need get the least.
Nearly 3M children have experienced death of a parent or caregiver in the U.S. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/ja... (6)
July 1, 2025 at 7:01 AM
There are also kids who have a parent die and are more likely to lose their Child Tax Credit due to loss of income.
Again, kids w/ greatest need get the least.
Nearly 3M children have experienced death of a parent or caregiver in the U.S. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/ja... (6)
Again, kids w/ greatest need get the least.
Nearly 3M children have experienced death of a parent or caregiver in the U.S. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/ja... (6)
Children and their families, who have lost their jobs, their homes, their possessions, their schools, and/or their communities, can lose their Child Tax Credit due to the loss of income.
Again, kids who need the most get the least in H.R. 1. (5)
Again, kids who need the most get the least in H.R. 1. (5)
July 1, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Children and their families, who have lost their jobs, their homes, their possessions, their schools, and/or their communities, can lose their Child Tax Credit due to the loss of income.
Again, kids who need the most get the least in H.R. 1. (5)
Again, kids who need the most get the least in H.R. 1. (5)
When women lose income during pregnancy and childbirth (38% drop of income to needs), they can be penalized w/ a reduction in their Child Tax Credit.
Larger families are also required to earn more money to receive the full Child Tax Credit.
This is referred to as “baby and child penalties.” (4)
Larger families are also required to earn more money to receive the full Child Tax Credit.
This is referred to as “baby and child penalties.” (4)
July 1, 2025 at 6:54 AM
When women lose income during pregnancy and childbirth (38% drop of income to needs), they can be penalized w/ a reduction in their Child Tax Credit.
Larger families are also required to earn more money to receive the full Child Tax Credit.
This is referred to as “baby and child penalties.” (4)
Larger families are also required to earn more money to receive the full Child Tax Credit.
This is referred to as “baby and child penalties.” (4)
Over 20 million children are left behind and only receive a partial or no credit in the related House GOP Child Tax Credit.
Who are these children? They include babies. (See below)
The children who need the most get the least. (3)
Who are these children? They include babies. (See below)
The children who need the most get the least. (3)
July 1, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Over 20 million children are left behind and only receive a partial or no credit in the related House GOP Child Tax Credit.
Who are these children? They include babies. (See below)
The children who need the most get the least. (3)
Who are these children? They include babies. (See below)
The children who need the most get the least. (3)
This side-by-side shows the many ways the Senate’s Child Tax Credit fails children and their families. (2)
July 1, 2025 at 6:48 AM
This side-by-side shows the many ways the Senate’s Child Tax Credit fails children and their families. (2)
The Senate Child Tax Credit in H.R. 1 fails our nation’s children.
First, @bennet.senate.gov
proposal (first chart) is far superior to the Senate GOP bill, H.R. 1 (second chart). (1)
First, @bennet.senate.gov
proposal (first chart) is far superior to the Senate GOP bill, H.R. 1 (second chart). (1)
July 1, 2025 at 6:47 AM
The Senate Child Tax Credit in H.R. 1 fails our nation’s children.
First, @bennet.senate.gov
proposal (first chart) is far superior to the Senate GOP bill, H.R. 1 (second chart). (1)
First, @bennet.senate.gov
proposal (first chart) is far superior to the Senate GOP bill, H.R. 1 (second chart). (1)
Cited you in my recent blog on the Child Tax Credit. How about weighing in on this issue? open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...
June 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Cited you in my recent blog on the Child Tax Credit. How about weighing in on this issue? open.substack.com/pub/bruceles...
Senate Republicans just proposed a Child Tax Credit in the first chart.
Senate Democrats proposed a Child Tax Credit several months ago in the second chart.
For children and families, it isn’t even close.
Senate Democrats proposed a Child Tax Credit several months ago in the second chart.
For children and families, it isn’t even close.
June 17, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Senate Republicans just proposed a Child Tax Credit in the first chart.
Senate Democrats proposed a Child Tax Credit several months ago in the second chart.
For children and families, it isn’t even close.
Senate Democrats proposed a Child Tax Credit several months ago in the second chart.
For children and families, it isn’t even close.
Fatherhood has been my life’s greatest gift.
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to my father and to all the dads who love and support their children.
#FathersDay2025
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to my father and to all the dads who love and support their children.
#FathersDay2025
June 15, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Fatherhood has been my life’s greatest gift.
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to my father and to all the dads who love and support their children.
#FathersDay2025
Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to my father and to all the dads who love and support their children.
#FathersDay2025