WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of President Obama’s highly anticipated budget for fiscal year 2011, First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, lauded his proposal for significant investments in our nation’s children.
In total, discretionary spending on programs that impact children saw a $6.12 billion boost over last year’s levels, an increase of 7.2 percent. President Obama’s budget proposes a cap of $447 billion for non-security discretionary spending, equal to last year’s funding level. Despite this freeze in discretionary spending, the percentage of federal discretionary money spent on children’s programs would increase under the President’s request, rising from 18.97 percent in fiscal year 2010 to 20.34 percent in fiscal year 2011.
Total discretionary spending on children in fiscal year 2010 totaled $84.79 billion. The President’s budget request increases that spending to approximately $90.91 billion.
First Focus president Bruce Lesley released the following statement:
“Last week, President Obama’s State of the Union address boldly proposed a ‘freeze’ of federal discretionary spending over the next three years. Indeed, children’s advocates were apprehensive of such a notion, as discretionary spending on children has declined since 2005.
“In fiscal year 2010, discretionary spending on children’s programs totaled 18.97 percent of the non-security, discretionary budget. And although the President’s fiscal year 2011 budget caps discretionary spending at last year’s levels, spending on children would actually increase to 20.34 percent of the non-security discretionary budget. This does not include mandatory spending, where historically children have received a far smaller share of federal dollars. In fact, last year only about 8 percent of mandatory spending went to children. We applaud President Obama’s effort to direct more discretionary spending toward children’s programs, as it demonstrates a strong commitment to ensure the health, education, and well-being of our nation’s future.
“Under the President’s budget proposal, key education programs experience dramatic increases. In fact, education and early childhood programs would see an increase of more than $5.3 billion. Education initiatives such as Race to the Top, Promise Neighborhoods, Investing in Innovation Fund, and school improvement grants would see significant gains. These important programs ensure students are prepared to meet the challenges of the real world.
“Paramount among these recommended investments are billions more in unprecedented increases for early childhood programs. The Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Early Learning Challenge Fund are just a selection of the programs that would see billions of additional dollars if the President’s budget is enacted. These programs are sound investments that make a tangible difference in the lives of children by starting them off on the right foot. We are heartened to see the President recognize that these initiatives are central to the early childhood system, by requesting increases that build on investments made in last year’s stimulus package.
“The President acknowledged the toll the foreclosure crisis on our nation’s families by calling for increased funding to bolster homeless assistance grants. These key funds support emergency shelters, supportive housing, as well as improvements to Section 8 housing, so that families have a safe place to go if they are met with unfortunate circumstances. We are also pleased to see President Obama propose new initiatives in his budget, some of which will improve the lives of children and families.
“However, some key children’s programs were reduced or underfunded. The President’s budget has once again cut funding on several critical juvenile justice programs. While we are pleased to see an increased investment in prevention, we remain concerned about the priority we are placing on rehabilitating our most vulnerable youth.
“A president’s budget is reflective of his priorities. In an austere budget year, we are pleased to see the share of discretionary spending on children increase as a percentage of the non-security budget. Even so, there is much work ahead as we begin to repair the many years of damage done to these essential programs.”