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FEDERAL BUDGET POLICY

Government's most fundamental responsibility is to protect public safety. Unfortunately, our nation is far short of making the needed investment in proven approaches that help prevent crime. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids works to increase - and defeat proposed cuts - in proven crime-prevention programs, including Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, juvenile justice approaches and child abuse and neglect prevention activities. Investing in these programs now will improve public safety and reap financial benefits down the road.

Legislative Update: October 24, 2007

Federal Budget

In February 2007, the Administration proposed a Fiscal Year 2008 budget that would impose deep and long-term cuts to critical children's programs proven to reduce crime.

The Administration proposes to cut funding for Head Start by $100 million dollars in FY08, which is almost 11% below the FY02 level adjusted for inflation. Instead, we are urging Congress to increase funding for Head Start by $750 million over current funding levels to restore funding for services to children to the FY02 level. Unfortunately, the House has proposed only a $75 million increase in Head Start funding for FY08, not even enough to keep pace with inflation. million increase in Head Start funding for FY08, not even enough to keep pace with inflation. The Senate is proposing a $200 million increase for Head Start. For more info, visit the early education page.

By the Administration’s own estimates, 150,000 fewer children received child care assistance in 2006 than in 2000, with hundreds of thousands more expected to lose coverage under the Administration’s FY08 proposed budget. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids believes that these cuts are moving us in the wrong direction and is instead urging Congress to increase CCDBG funding by $720 over current funding levels for FY08 to restore funding lost to inflation erosion and cuts since FY02. Unfortunately, the Senate proposed no increase in discretionary child care funding for FY08 and the House proposed only a $75 million increase, not even enough to keep pace with inflation. For more info, visit the early education page.

For after-school, the House proposes to increase 21st Century Community Learning Centers funding by $125 million – a step in the right direction. The Senate proposed a far smaller increase of $19 million. For more info, visit the after-school page .

The Senate and the House propose to fund Promoting Safe and Stable Families at the same level as in 2007. For more info, visit the child abuse and neglect page.

The House and the Senate will continue considering their proposals for FY08 funding levels for these and other programs throughout the fall. We will continue to educate policy-makers about the importance these crime-prevention investments in kids and the need for increased funding to give more kids access to these effective programs.

Federal Funding for Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Intervention Funding

Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations letter

Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations letter