Join the Fight for Increases in Head Start and Child Care

The legislation that will most affect profoundly young children and their families over the next decade is the Budget Control Act of 2011. The Act lays out a plan for deep cuts that could affect early childhood programs, including child care and Head Start. It begins with nearly $1 trillion in discretionary spending cuts over ten years. In addition, a "super-committee” has been charged with proposing another $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over ten years.  The super-committee may consider further cuts to discretionary programs; cuts to any entitlement program; and revenue increases, in any combination. The super-committee’s recommendations will receive an up or down vote by the end of 2011. To get involved in advocacy activities around the super-committee's proposal, please contact Melanie Ross Levin at mrosslevin@nwlc.org.

Early childhood advocates will also need to turn their attention to the FY 2012 appropriations process. In September, Appropriations Committees will decide spending levels for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, the RTT-Early Learning Challenge, and other early childhood programs.  While the Budget Control Act actually provides more funding this year than what was allowed in the Ryan Budget passed by the House earlier this year, these Committees will still have less to spend on discretionary programs than what was available in FY 2011, which already included cuts to a number of programs.

Here are some materials that can help you make sure that your Senators and Representatives know how important it is to increase and at a minimum maintain early childhood funding to serve young children and their families.

For more information or help in your advocacy, contact Helen Blank at the National Women's Law Center at hblank@nwlc.org or (202) 588-5180.

Conference Call

• Register for Conference Call, The Debt Deal's Impact on Early Childhood Programs, Tuesday, August 16 at 2 p.m. EST

Fact Sheets

• Unbalanced Debt Ceiling Deal Cuts Vital Programs; Critical Fights Ahead
• Additional Child Care Funding Essential to Prevent State Cuts

Coalition Action Materials

• Sample Letter to the Editor, Press Statement, Op-Ed Template, and Factsheet on Low-Income Children (by the First Five Years Fund)

Letters to Congress

• Sign-On Letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Support of Early Childhood Investments in FY 2013
• 'Head Start Works' Researchers' Letter to Congress