The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate recently passed a federal spending bill that includes increased federal funding for affordable child care and early childhood education programs, according to a press release from Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s office.
The bill proposes investing $100 million in child care initiatives throughout New York to fully restore funding for programs such as the Child Care Development block grant. It also proposes spending more than $500 million to support Head Start providers throughout the state.
Head Start, a program led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.
The bill aims to reverse spending cuts made on early education initiatives last March through the federal government’s budget sequestration.
“The misguided, reckles cuts to these services in the last year have had real consequences for children and families in our region,” said Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland). She added that the bill is far from perfect, but it will prevent “another disastrous government shutdown” and make critical investments in early childhood education.
Lowey was one of four members of the House and Senate who negotiated the federal spending bill so that it would include more investments in early childhood education. She joined the majority of the House in supporting the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed 359 to 67 last Wednesday, according to a press release. The Senate passed the bipartisan bill Thursday, and the bill is expected to be be signed by President Barack Obama soon.
