FY25 Sees Strong Bipartisan Support for Child Care & Early Learning Funding

Dozens of Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle signed letters expressing support for important funding for child care and early learning programs.

Each year, Members of Congress submit letters requesting robust funding for child care and early learning programs. Historically, letters requesting funding for child care have been bipartisan and incredibly popular – and this year is no different.

In March, First Five Years Fund (FFYF) led a coalition of 36 national early education advocacy organizations in calling for increased funding for federal early learning and care programs. FFYF also hosted a widely attended bipartisan congressional briefing featuring a panel of experts and leaders in the early learning field, which offered Congressional staff insights about the importance of the core programs – and the need for robust funding to ensure their success. 

Increasing funding for early learning and child care programs helps set more children on a path to achieve their full potential while also strengthening local economies, supporting working families, and responding to the real-world concerns of our nation’s voters. This year, several “Dear Colleague” letters were circulated in support of increased funding for the core federal early learning and care programs:

FY25 Bipartisan Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Letter

• Led by Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
• 94 signatures 
• Ask: Fund the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program at a level of at least $500 million

FY25 Democrat Led Child Care & Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG) Letter

• Led by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
• 162 signatures
• Ask: Provide at least $12.4 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). 

FY25 Republican Led Child Care & Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG) Letter

• Led by Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT)
• 34 signatures
• Ask: Provide robust funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).

FY25 Democrat Led Head Start and Early Head Start Letter

• Led by Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT)
• 179 signatures
• Ask: Provide $15.67 billion for Head Start in FY 2025. 

FY25 Republican Led Head Start and Early Head Start Letter

• Led by Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN)
• 34 signatures 
• Ask: Continue funding Head Start at the strongest level the Subcommittee deems possible.

Read more about child care and the Appropriations process here.