Appropriations Update for Head Start and Child Care Funding

July 31, 2008

The House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education appropriations marked up its bill for funding levels for fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009) and the full Senate committee has marked up its version. Funding continues to be tight, however, the House and Senate appropriations bills exceed the President's request. Here are some highlights of the appropriations bills:

Head Start -- $242 million increase in House; $223.6 million increase in Senate
Child Care & Development Block Grant -- $55 million increase in House; $75 million increase in Senate

Movement on the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill has slowed. A mark-up in full committee was scheduled on June 26th, however Obey adjourned the mark-up when Representative Lewis (R-CA) offered the Interior Appropriations bill as substitute and included an amendment that would allow for offshore drilling.

It is unlikely that the House will move any appropriations bills before the August recess. The new fiscal year beings Oct. 1, and there is essentially no chance Congress will have its spending work done by then. Congress will likely pass a continuing resolution (CR) at FY 2008 funding levels when they return in September. The CR will likely extend into March or April of 2009 once the new Administration assumes office.