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 following the release of President Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. The organization highlighted that the federal spending plan incorporates essential and much-needed funding for programs designed to build a solid foundation for young children and families across the United States.
The announcement comes as advocacy groups and early childhood development experts continue to push federal lawmakers to prioritize the unique needs of America’s youngest population. According to representatives from ZERO TO THREE, the new budget proposal marks an important step forward in addressing systemic challenges that affect infant and toddler welfare nationwide.
“If implemented, President Biden’s budget released today will make our nation a better and fairer nation to have and raise a baby,” said Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE.
Calderón emphasized that ZERO TO THREE has consistently urged Congress and the Administration to prioritize the needs of babies and their families across five critical policy areas: maternal health, infant and early childhood mental health, child care, housing, and economic security. These five pillars form the core of the organization’s ongoing advocacy work and are prominently featured in their comprehensive initiative, the State of Babies yearbook.
The latest federal budget proposal builds directly upon themes introduced by the President during his recent State of the Union address. In that speech, the President outlined a visionary path toward a future where working families are empowered and given meaningful choices regarding their children’s care and future development. The proposed fiscal year 2025 budget expands significantly on this vision by introducing targeted federal proposals that address multiple facets of early childhood development, ranging from healthcare access to economic stability for households with young children.
Advocates argue that investing in the earliest years of life is not only a moral imperative but also a sound economic strategy. Decades of developmental research demonstrate that a child’s brain develops faster during the first three years of life than at any other subsequent stage. During this critical window, positive experiences, stable environments, and consistent access to quality healthcare and nutrition help lay the neurological groundwork for all future learning, behavior, and health. Conversely, toxic stress, poverty, inadequate health care, and unstable housing during infancy can create lasting adverse effects that are difficult and costly to reverse later in life.
By focusing federal resources on maternal health and early childhood support systems, the proposed budget aims to mitigate some of the most pressing risks facing young families today. Maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the United States remain unacceptably high, particularly among women of color, directly impacting infant well-being from birth. Furthermore, working families across the country continue to face a severe child care crisis, characterized by skyrocketing costs, limited availability of infant care slots, and underpaid early childhood educators.
ZERO TO THREE has pointed out that addressing these interconnected challenges requires a coordinated federal response. The proposals within the President’s budget represent an acknowledgment that supporting babies means supporting the entire ecosystem surrounding them—including mothers, families, caregivers, and early childhood professionals.
Following the release of the budget blueprint, the focus now shifts entirely to Capitol Hill, where federal lawmakers will debate, modify, and ultimately vote on appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year. Passing a federal budget is a complex legislative process that requires bipartisan cooperation and careful negotiation between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“Now, Congress must work with the Administration to deliver for families and babies,” Calderón continued, underscoring the urgency of the legislative road ahead. “We look forward to working with Congressional appropriators and our baby champions on the Hill to make these bold proposals a reality.”
As the legislative session progresses, early childhood advocates, community leaders, and concerned citizens are expected to engage heavily with elected officials to ensure that funding for these vital programs remains intact throughout the budget reconciliation and appropriations process. For families, child care providers, and health advocates across the nation, the outcome of these congressional debates will have profound implications for the wellbeing of the next generation.
