NAEYC Update

Budget Rules Bill Fails

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected amendments and a bill that would have significantly impeded future federal investments in early childhood education and other programs that support children and families. Your phone calls and emails made a big difference!

By a vote of 146 to 268, the House rejected the bill. The bill would have set very low discretionary funding levels that would have affected Head Start, No Child Left Behind, and many other human services programs. The bill also would have treated revenue reductions differently that direct spending. By a vote of 120 to 296, the House rejected the Kirk amendment that would have put ceilings on mandatory funding programs, regardless of growth in need. This amendment would have cut spending over the next 10 years for programs such as Child Care & Development Block Grant assistance and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

CHILD NUTRITION REAUTHORIZATION PASSES

On June 23rd and 24th, respectively, the Senate and House each unanimously passed identical child nutrition reauthorization bills, S. 2507. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President prior to the June 30th deadline for expiring child nutrition provisions. The legislation will expand the availability of nutritious meals and snacks to more children in school, in outside school hours programs, and in child care; and will improve the quality of food in schools. For more in-depth information, go to Food Research Action Council at www.frac.org