FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Brendan Daly, [email protected], (202) 794-1580

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 26, 2018) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) applauds Congress for its overwhelming votes to pass the Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) and its robust funding of crucial early childhood education programs. The House passed the bill by a 361-61 today; the Senate passed the bill last week by a 93-7 vote.

“I’d like to specifically thank Senators Roy Blunt and Patty Murray and Representatives Tom Cole and Rosa DeLauro for their dedicated support for programs that reach low-income children and their families,” said Kris Perry, president of SCAN. “Under their leadership, kids across the country will benefit today and for years to come. Increased funding for these crucial early learning programs is the best investment we can make in our future.”

The bill, which will now go to President Trump for his signature into law, includes a $200 million increase in funding for Head Start and Early Head Start ($10.1 billion overall) and a $50 million increase in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) above last year’s historic investments ($5.3 billion overall). It also provides a $10 million increase to afterschool and summer programs ($1.22 billion overall) and level funds Preschool Development Grants at $250 million.

“We are grateful for the hard work of Congress and their staff to return to regular order and fund these programs for the entire fiscal year,” said Perry. “These programs are good for our children, our families, and our economy. While we are grateful for these substantial investments, we know that more work needs to be done to ensure that more low-income kids have a chance to break the cycle of poverty through high-quality early childhood education.”

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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. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.