Council for a Strong America Lauds Passage of Bipartisan Budget Act

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 is a massive victory for American children and families that drew praise and support from Council for a Strong America, the national nonprofit made up of more than 9,000 members of the five organizations that comprise it – Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, Mission: Readiness, Champions for America's Future, and Shepherding the Next Generation. 

The budget agreement includes action on many of Council for a Strong America's key priorities to protect or expand crucial programs that support children and families:

MIECHV

The bill includes a five-year reauthorization for the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV).  Research has shown that high-quality home visiting can reduce child abuse and neglect and lead to better outcomes for parents and children alike.

CHIP

The bill further extends the recent reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by four years.  That means that millions of children will have access to health insurance and important mental health coverage for the next decade, strengthening families' financial solvency and productivity while also boosting health outcomes.

CCDBG

The bill includes a $5.8 billion commitment for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).  This commitment will allow CCDBG funding to double over each of the next two years, giving an estimated 364,800 additional families access to higher-quality child care.

FFPSA and SIPPRA

Moreover, the bill contains a host of other provisions that represent great news for American kids and families.  These include passage of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act (SIPPRA). 

A Victory for Families and Kids

Council for a Strong America thanks the lawmakers who worked together to pass the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.  This is a major step toward achieving the goal of making future generations and our nation stronger—a goal that Council for a Strong America and its members have worked tirelessly to achieve. 

As we continue to advocate for evidence-based policies that reduce crime, bolster national security, build the future workforce, and give children the best opportunity to succeed, Council for a Strong America celebrates this historic victory. 

SOURCE Council for a Strong America