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Aug 2, 2023

Update on Early Childhood Provisions in the Federal Budget

Updated: Aug 3, 2023

By Elijah Smith, Policy Assistant, Groundwork Ohio Follow Elijah on LinkedIn

I Love Child Care and Pre-K Graphic

Following President Biden’s State of the Union Address on February 7, 2023, the United States Congress received the administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2024, jumpstarting the federal budget process.


The President’s FY 2024 budget request included:

  • An additional $980 million for Child Care and Development Block Grants

  • An additional $1.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start

  • An additional $45 million for the Preschool Development Grant

A full breakdown of the President’s early learning funding proposals can be found here.


After receiving the budget and determining the total level of discretionary funding, Congress divides the work of allocating funding across 12 appropriations subcommittees.


House of Representatives

On July 14, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a mark-up on the proposed funding levels.


The committee's marked-up budget includes:

  • A 29% cut in overall social spending

  • A $20 million cut to Child Care and Development Block Grants

  • A $750 million cut to Head Start and Early Head Start

  • A complete elimination of the Preschool Development Grant


Senate

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a bipartisan mark-up on the proposed funding levels.


The committee's marked-up budget includes:

  • An additional $700 million for Child Care and Development Block Grants

  • An additional $275 million for Head Start and Early Head Start

  • A $5 million cut to the Preschool Development Grant


The federal budget process is still ongoing. As the Appropriations bill moves through the Senate and the House of Representatives, it is important that the voices of children and families are heard.


As part of their budget advocacy, First Five Years Fund has released the “First Five Years Fund Child Care Champion Toolkit: 2023.” This toolkit includes state-specific fact sheets, social media graphics, sample op-eds, outreach tools and more.


Please visit their Action Center and email, call, or Tweet at your lawmakers.

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