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White House today proposed budget cuts to critical domestic and international programs

Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2017) – Save the Children and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) today expressed alarm on the president’s proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, which would hurt kids across the nation and around the world by not adequately investing in their health, education, and well-being.

“The proposed cuts to foreign assistance would reverse the bipartisan progress the United States has made in helping millions of children survive and thrive around the world,” said Carolyn Miles, president & CEO of Save the Children. “The budget includes cuts to programs that reduce food insecurity, provide access to immunization and other critical health services for children, prevent malnutrition and stunting, provide educational opportunities to children, and reach children in dire humanitarian crises. These programs not only represent American values but help ensure children everywhere have the childhood they deserve.”

Mark Shriver, president of SCAN, said: “Thanks in part to the voices of our activists, Head Start has been spared drastic cuts like the ones proposed to so many other domestic and international accounts, but it is now vital that Congress protect funding for critical children’s programs. Just a few weeks ago, Congress sent a strong message to the White House when it passed the fiscal year 2017 spending bill with increased funding to programs like global maternal and child health and domestic early learning programs, while maintaining robust levels for other accounts like nutrition and basic education. Our organizations will now work alongside our bipartisan congressional allies to ensure funding for these critical investments is maintained and expanded.”

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Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 

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.