WASHINGTON, DC — ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading early childhood development nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all infants and toddlers receive 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 funding package incorporates vital and long-overdue investments aimed at building a solid foundation for young children and their families across the United States.
According to leadership at the advocacy group, the fiscal blueprint aligns closely with the organization’s ongoing national campaigns to prioritize the foundational years of human development. By addressing critical systemic needs at the federal level, the administration’s proposal seeks to reshape the landscape of early childhood support, framing the earliest years of life as a critical priority for national investment and public policy.
A Blueprint for a Fairer Nation
"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 the organization has consistently urged both Congress and the administration to place the unique needs of infants, toddlers, and their caregivers at the forefront of national policymaking. These advocacy efforts have focused specifically on five foundational pillars: maternal health, infant and early childhood mental health, accessible and high-quality child care, stable housing, and broad economic security for working households.
The release of the fiscal year 2025 budget follows closely on the heels of the President’s State of the Union address, during which the administration outlined a broader vision for empowering families and expanding choices for the future of the nation’s youngest generation. The newly detailed budget proposals expand upon that overarching vision by putting forward concrete, targeted funding mechanisms designed to address the multifaceted nature of early childhood development, supporting not just the children themselves, but the entire support network surrounding them.
Addressing Key Pillars of Early Childhood Development
The President’s budget proposal arrives at a critical juncture for American families, many of whom continue to face economic pressures, housing instability, and significant hurdles in accessing affordable, high-quality care. By proposing targeted federal investments across multiple agencies and program areas, the administration’s spending plan aims to alleviate some of the most persistent systemic challenges facing parents and caregivers today.
ZERO TO THREE has long maintained that investments in the earliest years of life yield profound long-term benefits for society, influencing educational outcomes, health trajectories, and economic stability well into adulthood. The proposed allocations in the fiscal year 2025 budget reflect an understanding of these interconnected developmental needs, seeking to fortify the social safety net during the most rapid and crucial period of human brain development.
The Road Ahead in Congress
With the budget now formally submitted to Capitol Hill, attention turns immediately to the legislative branch, where lawmakers will debate, negotiate, and ultimately draft the federal appropriations bills that will determine actual funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year.
"Now, Congress must work with the Administration to deliver for families and babies," Calderón continued, underscoring the urgent necessity of bipartisan cooperation and legislative prioritization. "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 process unfolds in the coming months, early childhood advocates, policy experts, and community leaders plan to press lawmakers to preserve—and where possible, strengthen—the proposed investments for infants and toddlers. For ZERO TO THREE and its network of supporters nationwide, the fiscal year 2025 budget represents not just a set of numbers on a page, but a vital opportunity to shape a more supportive, equitable future for the nation’s youngest citizens.
