1. The Federal Policy Landscape for Early Childhood Programs
Matthew E. Melmed, Executive Director, ZERO TO THREE
March 24, 2017

2. Overall Federal Policy Landscape: This IS the Deluge…
Health Care: Affordable Care Act repeal, replacement, seismic shift in Medicaid funding
Debt Ceiling Reached: Debt-limit suspension expired; extraordinary measures in effect
FY2017 funding: not resolved
Skinny Budget: FY 2018 topline budget with $54 billion defense increase paid for by domestic cuts
May: Detailed budget with cuts to domestic programs and beginnings of deconstruction

3. First Up: Health Care
Why is health care in the middle of an early childhood landscape?
House Republican Bill:
House scheduled to vote Thursday on bill that will cut $880 billion from Medicaid and cause 24 million people to lose coverage by 2026
Breaking news on vote and outlook
Implications for young children
Potential retreat from historic benchmark: Only 3.2% of children 5 and under without health insurance
Less access to care, more economic stress for families
Block grant option does not protect guarantee of EPSDT
Could undermine the developmental backstop of routine pediatric care
Cuts to federal Medicaid share could place more pressure on state spending for children’s programs such as child care, preK, home visiting, early intervention

4. FY 2017 Appropriations Shutdown Showdown?
Continuing Resolution for FY 2017 funding expires on April 28
Many expect will resolve through an omnibus bill
Where do early care and learning programs stand?
CCDBG (FY2016: $2.761 billion)
House: + $40 million
Senate: + $25 million
Head Start (FY2016: $9.168 billion)
House: + $142 million
Senate: + $ 35 million
Preschool Development Grants (FY2016: $250 million)
House: no change
Senate: no change
More at: What’s in the Budget for Babies
ACTION POINT
Ask Congress to pass an omnibus appropriations
bill with increases for early childhood programs

5. FY 2018 Budget & Appropriations: Where can we make difference?
Trump “Skinny Budget” – just a proposal
Increases defense spending by $54 billion
Deep cuts in departmental budgets
HHS budget cut by 23%, BUT
Narrative includes early care and education program on list of funded programs
Not clear what programs included or what being funded means
Programs that support low-income families, such as LIHEAP, cut or eliminated
Supplemental request from President: Defense spending + Wall funding; domestic cuts
Detailed budget in May
Individual program funding levels
Tax and mandatory spending proposals
Critical Decision Point—Congressional Budget Resolution:
Sets the discretionary spending totals
More Reconciliation instructions
Tell Congress to give
Domestic spending
Increases on par with
Defense.
ACTION POINT

6. Appropriations Process Underway Without a Budget
Appropriations Committees starting to work
Spending totals not yet set, but hearings underway
House holds robust Early Learning hearing
Members are determining their priorities now! Advocate for your priorities:
CCDBG funding to cover reauthorization implementation
Head Start increases for and significant expansion of Early Head Start
Part C/Early Intervention
Let Members know
Early Learning Priorities
ACTION POINT

7. ZERO TO THREE’s Federal Policy Agenda: Where do we see possibilities?
Support parents as they raise their young children:
National Paid Family Leave
“Parenting Edge” initiative for broader support
Expand communities’ support for early brain development
Expand reach of Early Head Start
Invest in high quality child care
Reorient child welfare system around stable relationships and sound development
Promote the positive mental health of infants, toddlers, and families—the bedrock of brain connections
Expand availability and accessibility of IECMH services
Create a well-qualified IECMH workforce
Ensure adequate funding
Photo © Kiwi Street Studios
Copyright © 2016 ZERO TO THREE. All rights reserved.

8. Do Trump Promises Mean Opportunities? Child Care
Trump proposal:
Tax deductions
Dependent Care Savings Accounts
EITC rebates
Concerns:
Tax-side assistance doesn’t help families that need help most OR even those where many young children are found
Deductions and Savings Accounts mainly benefit upper income families
Rebates and deductions aren’t enough with high cost of care
Does nothing to help build strong early childhood services with well-compensated workforce and high quality

9. Change the Conversation to Child Care Solutions for All Families
ACTION POINT
Push for funding direct assistance for low-income families through existing mandatory CCDBG funding stream
Increase amount of Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and make refundable
Infrastructure bill? Ask to include child care funding
New jobs mean more child care needed & child care builds our nation’s human capital infrastructure

10. Do Trump Promises Mean Opportunities? Paid Leave
Trump proposal:
6 weeks paid maternity leave
Possibly expanded to parental leave
Funded through Unemployment Insurance “fraud fund”
Concerns:
Length of time is too short
Confined to maternity leave for birth mothers and maybe paternity leave
Ignores modern definition of family
Ignores the importance of time for bonding
No paid medical and family leave
Funding mechanism unclear

11. Change the Conversation to Paid Family & Medical Leave
ACTION POINT
Change the Conversation to Paid Family & Medical Leave

12. Home Visiting and MIECHV Reauthorization
MIECHV expires at the end of September
Current funding $400 million annually
Mandatory funding must be offset with revenue or spending cuts
Bi-partisan Congressional support
Future directions
Broader approaches to supporting parents
Primary care-based child development and mental health support
Advocate for
Reauthorization
ACTION POINT

13. Think Babies Campaign Goal:
Raise awareness among federal policymakers about the importance of investing in policies and programs that support the healthy development of babies and toddlers.
Activities:
National digital organizing opportunities
Local organizing tools
Strolling Thunder:
May 2
In Washington, DC and across the country!

14. Any questions? Thank You!
Photo © Kiwi Street Studios
Copyright © 2016 ZERO TO THREE. All rights reserved.