Media Contact: Brendan Daly (202.794.1580)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 30, 2015) — Save the Children Action Network today expressed concern about the lack of funding for some early childhood education programs provided by the House and Senate in their fiscal year 2016 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bills.

“We appreciate the bipartisan recognition of the importance of investing in early learning with the funding increase for Early Head Start in both bills, and the increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant in the Senate bill, but more must be done to ensure our children receive a high-quality education,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network.

Both the House and Senate bills approved by the Appropriations committees last week have discretionary funding levels that are more than $3 billion below the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, and more than $14 billion below President Obama’s requested level. That is unacceptable.

“Congress should do more to adequately fund essential early learning programs,” said Shriver. “Without access to a high-quality education, children fall behind. Many never catch up.”

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Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that no mother or child around the globe dies from a preventable disease or illness. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive.