WASHINGTON, DC — ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading early childhood development nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that all infants and toddlers have a strong 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 blueprint includes essential and much-needed funding for programs designed to build a solid foundation for young children and families across the United States.
The proposed budget, which outlines federal spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, touches upon several critical areas of early childhood development, family support, and maternal care. According to advocates, the measures put forward by the administration reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of America’s youngest citizens during the most formative period of their lives.
Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, emphasized the broad-reaching positive impacts the budget could have on families if enacted by Congress.
“If implemented, President Biden’s budget released today will make our nation a better and fairer nation to have and raise a baby,” said Calderón. “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 noted that the administration’s focus on these areas builds directly upon the themes introduced by the President during his recent State of the Union address. In that speech, the President laid out a vision for a future where families are empowered and afforded genuine choices regarding their children’s upbringing and long-term well-being.
“And, in last week’s State of the Union address, the President laid out a path toward a future where families are empowered and have choices about their baby’s future,” Calderón added. “This proposed budget expands on this vision with proposals that address all facets of young children’s development.”
The early childhood sector has long advocated for robust federal investments to tackle systemic challenges facing families with infants and toddlers. Issues such as the nationwide child care crisis, persistent disparities in maternal health outcomes, and the rising cost of housing and basic economic security have placed immense pressure on parents and caregivers. The administration’s fiscal year 2025 budget attempts to target these interconnected challenges through dedicated funding mechanisms and program expansions aimed at stabilizing households and supporting child development from birth.
With the release of the budget proposal, attention now shifts to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers will debate, negotiate, and eventually vote on federal appropriations. ZERO TO THREE and other child advocacy groups are preparing to engage heavily with federal legislators to ensure that the priorities outlined in the executive budget remain intact throughout the legislative process.
“Now, Congress must work with the Administration to deliver for families and babies,” Calderón continued, underscoring the urgency of bipartisan cooperation in advancing measures that support early childhood development. “We look forward to working with Congressional appropriators and our baby champions on the Hill to make these bold proposals a reality.”
As the appropriations process moves forward in the coming months, advocates will continue monitoring how funding levels for key domestic programs are shaped by congressional committees. For organizations like ZERO TO THREE, the ultimate goal remains securing sustained federal commitment to the health, education, and economic stability of America’s youngest children and the families who raise them.
