President’s Proposed Budget Bolsters Education Investments in Children

Voices for America’s Children, the nation’s largest network of multi-issue child advocacy organizations, today praised President Obama’s proposed federal budget, citing many attempts by the administration to bolster investments in children and families.

“President Obama today outlined a federal budget that would bolster programs to protect and nurture needy children, particularly in health and education,” said Bill Bentley, president and CEO of Voices for America’s Children. “While this is not the budget child advocates would have drafted, we applaud Obama for the emphasis he has placed on investments in the next generation.”

Parts of the blueprint cheered by child advocates include $30 billion to modernize at least 35,000 schools and another $30 billion to help states and localities retain and hire teachers and first responders, proposals that first appeared in the administration’s American Jobs Act. Other favorable education measures include $850 million for the Race to the Top initiative, wherein states compete for federal grants based on innovative education practices, and full funding for Pell Grants, which help millions of American students afford college. Also noteworthy are increases of $85 million for Head Start and $825 million for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

Voices also approves of the Obama administration’s proposed “Buffett rule” to ensure all Americans contribute their share to the federal budget. While it’s not clear exactly how this rule would be implemented, it would ensure that the very wealthy don’t end up paying a lower effective tax rate than other workers, as in the now famous case of Warren Buffett and his secretary. However, child advocates expressed concern that funds for smaller education initiatives could get consolidated away in some of Obama’s broad gestures toward reform of No Child Left Behind.

“While not perfect, the president’s budget makes vital contributions to child well-being, particularly in health and education,” said Eileen Garcia, CEO of Voices member Texans Care for Children. “The president’s emphasis on shared sacrifice in paying down the national debt is important, because otherwise the ones who suffer most in deficit reduction would be those who lack a corporate lobby in Washington, D.C.—America’s kids.”