Media Contact: Allie Wright, [email protected], (202) 794-1823

Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2017) – The House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved its appropriations bill this week, which increases funding to early childhood education programs including Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

The bill maintains funding for Preschool Development Grants at $250 million, which is level-funded from the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. The full Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on the bill next week.

 “I’m grateful to members of this committee, including Rep. Tom Cole, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Steve Womack and Martha Roby, who invested in kids and protected critical funding for these programs,” said Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network (SCAN). “Although the administration’s budget proposal includes devastating cuts that would be harmful to children and families across the country, these members understand the immense benefits Head Start and high-quality child care provide, especially to kids living in rural poverty. SCAN looks forward to continuing our work with Congress to ensure Head Start and other quality early learning programs receive robust funding in the final budget.”

In March, SCAN placed $150,000 television and digital ads that urged Congress to protect funding for Head Start. The digital ads targeted key Republicans on the House Appropriations and Budget committees, including Cole, Herrera Beutler, Roby and Womack.

To view these television ads, click here.

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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.