Children and the State: Introduction

Today's children are vulnerable. They are society's victims, plagued by physical and sexual abuse, pornography, kidnapping, suicide, and drug abuse. Poverty and unemployment affect children disproportionately. In the Senate, it has been my task to address many of the problems facing children in our society and to consider some legislative solutions to these problems.

Much remains to be done, but much progress has been made. This issue of the Yale Law & Policy Review focuses not only on areas in which children need help, but also on ways in which government action has succeeded in providing that help. The potential for success-the assurance that sometimes government can make a significant difference-has motivated many of us in Congress to continue to struggle to solve the daunting problems facing young Americans.