FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
Joe Weedon
jweedon@zerotothree.org
(202) 277-9410
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 14, 2023 –Today, ZERO TO THREE released the following statement from Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer, on the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels for programs that support infants and toddlers and their families released by the House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
“Eighty-seven percent of parents with infants and toddlers say that addressing the needs of children and families should be either a top or important priority this budget cycle. Yet, the proposal put forward today by the House Appropriations Committee Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee does the exact opposite. It guts many programs that support babies and their families.
Programs that the funding proposal eliminates, including Healthy Start, The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS), the Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5), provide support for communities, babies, & families. The committee’s budget proposal also slashes funding for Early Head Start and Head Start programs which are shown to improve early development and put infants and toddlers on track for success in school.
Babies and their families must be a top priority for our nation and robust public funding is needed to ensure that all babies and families have access to the high-quality programs and supports that they need to thrive. This includes access to quality, affordable childcare, food assistance for healthy nutrition, infant and early childhood mental health services, and housing.”
