Washington, DC – The National Women’s Law Center Action Fund applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee for including additional funding for child care, as well as language protecting the Department of Education, in its Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The Committee, led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), approved $12.4 billion in funding for Head Start and $8.8 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program – an $85 million increase for each program compared to Fiscal Year 2025.
The Committee also agreed to fund at prior year levels two programs that the Trump administration sought to eliminate in its proposed budget:
- The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) program, which aims to improve children’s health and development, prepare children to succeed in kindergarten, and improve transitions into the local school system;
- And the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which supports student-parents with low incomes by providing campus-based child care services.
Additionally, the bill includes language to prevent the Trump administration from following through in its executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
Emily Martin, chief program officer at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, released the following statement in response:
“As the Trump administration continues its relentless attacks on child care and public education, we’re heartened to see bipartisan consensus over the importance of these programs, which are critical for the wellbeing of women and families. We’re deeply grateful to Senators Collins, Capito, Murray, and Baldwin for protecting funding for child care, as well as including language to prevent the administration from continuing its unlawful efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
“While we’re disappointed that once again the annual budget includes restrictions on abortion access in federally-funded programs – giving lawmakers the power to block pregnant people’s decision-making about their lives and health – we’re encouraged to see bipartisan progress on other key priorities for women and families.”
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