Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a two-year budget bill, already approved by the House, for fiscal years  2020 and 2021. The budget deal raises funding caps, a crucial first step that allows increased spending on discretionary programs like the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Head Start, and WIC. The Senate can now use the appropriations process to further increase CCDBG funding in the 2020-2021 budget.

Additional investment in CCDBG—the largest source of federal child care funding—would address gaps in high-quality child care, reduce barriers for people of color, help families gain economic security, and support children’s development. But that can only happen if the Senate boldly invests now. 

America has made significant progress expanding health insurance since the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But many gaps in coverage remain, particularly for people with low incomes and people of color. It's critical to center the national discussion about improving health care access on people who have been marginalized.

CLASP has identified principles for all stakeholders to consider when creating proposals that meet the unique needs of different subgroups, address structural inequities, and generate equitable health outcomes.