WASHINGTON, DC — ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading early childhood development nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all infants and toddlers have a strong and healthy start in life, has expressed strong encouragement regarding President Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. The organization noted that the federal spending plan includes essential and much-needed funding for programs designed to build a solid foundation for young children and their families across the United States.
The announcement comes as child development advocates, policymakers, and family support organizations analyze the broad federal spending priorities laid out by the administration. ZERO TO THREE has long advocated for robust federal investments that address the holistic needs of infants, toddlers, and the adults who care for them, emphasizing that early childhood policy is foundational to long-term societal well-being.
"If implemented, President Biden’s budget released today will make our nation a better and fairer place to have and raise a baby," said Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE. "ZERO TO THREE has urged Congress and the Administration to prioritize the needs of babies and their families in five key areas: maternal health, infant and early childhood mental health, child care, housing, and economic security."
Calderón pointed to the recent State of the Union address, noting that the President laid out a clear path toward a future where families are empowered and have meaningful choices regarding their children’s future. She emphasized that the newly proposed federal budget builds directly upon that vision by introducing targeted proposals that address virtually all facets of early childhood growth and development.
The administration’s budget outlines critical investments aimed at bolstering family support systems and addressing systemic vulnerabilities that impact infants during their most critical developmental windows. By targeting maternal health outcomes, expanding access to infant and early childhood mental health resources, stabilizing the child care sector, addressing family housing stability, and reinforcing economic security measures, the budget attempts a comprehensive approach to early childhood policy.
The advocacy community views these proposed allocations as a crucial step forward in addressing the chronic underfunding of early childhood infrastructure. For years, organizations like ZERO TO THREE have highlighted how systemic gaps in child care availability, maternal healthcare disparities, and economic instability disproportionately harm young children during the first three years of life—a period of rapid neurological development that shapes lifelong health, learning, and behavior.
With the release of the presidential budget blueprint, the focus now shifts to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers will debate, modify, and eventually vote on appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year. The path from a presidential proposal to enacted legislation requires extensive negotiation among congressional appropriators, committee leaders, and administration officials.
"Now, Congress must work with the Administration to deliver for families and babies," Calderón continued, underscoring the urgency of bipartisan cooperation in advancing early childhood priorities. "We look forward to working with Congressional appropriators and our baby champions on the Hill to make these bold proposals a reality."
As the budget process moves forward in the coming weeks and months, child advocates plan to engage heavily with lawmakers to ensure that funding for vital infant and toddler programs is preserved or expanded. The ultimate outcome of the fiscal year 2025 appropriations cycle will significantly shape the landscape of early childhood support services nationwide, determining the level of resources available for families striving to provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for the youngest members of society.
For media inquiries regarding ZERO TO THREE’s response to the federal budget or additional information on early childhood development initiatives, communications director Joe Weedon can be reached at (202) 277-9410 or via email at [email protected].
