Senate Appropriators Propose Increased Funding for Child Care and Early Learning Programs 

WASHINGTON – This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed $2.3 billion in increased funding for federal child care and early learning programs as part of their markup of the FY2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill. 

Led by Committee Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Subcommittee Chair Baldwin and Subcommittee Ranking Member Capito, the bill includes:

• Overall: Senate Appropriations set the overall Labor-HHS spending number at $231.34 billion, which includes a $2.3 billion increase for early learning programs within HHS over fiscal year 2024. 
• Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $10.35 billion – a $1.6 billion increase over fiscal year 2024. 
• Head Start and Early Head Start: $12.97 billion – a $700 million increase over fiscal year 2024. 
• Preschool Development Birth Through Five program (PDG B-5): $315 million – the same level as FY2024.

The Senate proposal follows the FY2025 proposal from the House Appropriations Committee (Click here for the latest FY25 funding information) this June, which included an additional $25 million for CCDBG and an additional $25 million for Head Start. Earlier this year, Members across Capitol Hill also expressed strong support for investment in child care and early learning in a series of letters to the Appropriations committees. 

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling released the following statement in response: 

“Addressing our nation’s child care challenges takes bipartisan commitment at the federal level. We applaud the work of Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Subcommittee Chair Baldwin, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Capito who often have to make tough fiscal decisions but came together to support working parents and our youngest learners. 

“Robust investments in child care and early learning programs will bring much-needed support to working families with young children. When parents can find and afford the child care they need so they can go to work or school, it supports working families, young childrens, and our economy. 

“We’re grateful to the Senate Appropriations Committee for prioritizing important programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Head Start/Early Head Start, and the Preschool Development Birth Through Five  program (PDG B-5). And we look forward to continuing this momentum, working with Congress on all opportunities to increase access to affordable, quality child care for families across the country.” 

DownloadPolicy Edge – Senate Appropriations (68.36 kB)