Parents' Action for Children

As some of you may know, in 1997, my wife Michele and I helped start the I Am Your Child Foundation to improve the state of early childhood development in America. We are proud of our many accomplishments. From a White House conference on early childhood to a television special on the subject to the distribution of more than eight million parenting videos, we have worked to improve the lives of our nation's children.

But the more I traveled this country listening to parents of every race and class, the more I realized that America's 65 million parents (those with children at home under the age of 18) have yet to realize their collective power to change public policy for the good of our families. Every conceivable group in this country is represented by a major national organization fighting for their rights at the federal, state and local level except for parents.

To take but one example, this week President Bush resumes his social security roadshow - a sustained Presidential media blitz remarkable for its abysmal results (polls show less support for his ideas today than when he began advocating them). President Bush's social security proposal is a failure of ideas, but it is also a success of the AARP, which has demonstrated yet again that social security will never materially change without the input and support of the organization representing America's seniors.

Until our nation's parents get organized, American politicians will continue to say "Children are our future" without delivering a coherent public policy that honors those words in action with universal preschool, universal health care, quality child care and a real investment in public education. That is why we are reintroducing ourselves with a bold new name -- Parents' Action for Children -- as the first voice for America's parents; a voice that has the power to change our political landscape and achieve real results for America's families. No longer will parents be easily divided by partisan politics. United and led by a dynamic organization, America's parents and their children will be heard from Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Please go to www.parentsaction.org to learn more about our organization. The site will be updated regularly, so please continue to visit. And if you are so inclined, get active. The site has easy ways for you to immediately affect positive change that will benefit America's families.