FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 16, 2017

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Children’s Budget Coalition (CBC) released an official statement in response to the President’s Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 18) Budget Blueprint which cuts $54 billion of non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending:

“This budget raises serious concerns about President Trump’s interest in protecting America’s children.  As policy experts in child development and well-being, we know that his Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 18) budget would decimate the programs proven to improve the lives of children.

With children’s programs accounting for less than 8 percent of the federal budget, and a mere 2.1 percent of all new total federal spending over the last five years, it’s clear that investments in children are on the decline. If this continues, we will see even higher rates of poverty, an increase in health issues and devastating consequences in the education sector. Now is not the time to pull back on investing in the health, education, nutrition, and welfare of our children.

We urge OMB Director Mick Mulvaney to lead the way in prioritizing kids. We are asking him to lift the budget caps for NDD spending, maintain parity between defense discretionary and NDD spending and not use either FY 17 or FY 18 NDD spending cuts to offset any supplemental spending legislation. We cannot continue down a path that is so clearly detrimental to children.  Now is the time to make an investment in our nation’s children, and ultimately, the nation’s future.”

The CBC sent a letter to OMB Director Mick Mulvaney expressing concerns about the divestment trends in children. Read the letter here.

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The Children’s Budget Coalition is made up of more than fifty children focused organizations who collaborate to make children and families a top priority in federal policy and budget decisions. The Coalition is committed to ensuring that every child can reach their full potential. Click here to see a list of the coalition’s members.