The Obama Administration released the long-anticipated Head Start Performance Standards late last week. The new rule allows for greater flexibility at the local level and puts great emphasis on family engagement.

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft FY 2017 Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education spending bill. This appropriations bill is the source of funding for the vast majority of federal child care and early child development programs. The Committee is expected to consider, and likely pass, this bill late next week.

Earlier this week, the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan (R-WI), unveiled his much anticipated anti-poverty plan. The proposal, titled “A Better Way,” addresses federal programs that assist low-income families including TANF, SNAP, and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. In addition, the plan includes ideas on expanding access to 401(k)s for small businesses, and promoting access to affordable retirement advice.

Yesterday, the House Budget Committee approved the FY 2017 budget resolution and, as expected, the resolution proposed draconian cuts to domestic, non-defense programs, including those supporting millions of children.

Earlier today, Congresswomen Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Katharine Clark (D-MA) introduced the "Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Improvement Act of 2016."