There are nearly 16 million infants and toddlers in the United States, nearly half of whom live in families living paycheck to paycheck. Early childhood is a period of rapid growth and development, but is also a time when children are the most vulnerable to the effects of poverty. Without access to nutritious food, housing, medical care, and high-quality education, young children may not develop the foundation they need to thrive.
President Donald Trump and his conservative allies have proposed budgets that seek to deeply cut or eliminate many of the programs that cover millions of children’s most basic needs—all to provide tax cuts for the wealthy. While infants and toddlers are uniquely vulnerable to these proposed cuts, they have been largely left out of the budget conversation.
Please join the Center for American Progress, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), and a panel of experts and parent advocates to discuss what is at stake for young children across the country if programs that invest in their healthy development are cut.
Introductory remarks:
Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Center for American Progress
Keynote address:
Representative Katherine Clark (D, MA-5)
Featured panelists:
Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE
Michael Linden, Policy Research Director, The Hub Project
Taryn Morrissey, Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs, American University
Kelly Ditton, parent advocate
Moderated by:
Katie Hamm, Vice President, Early Childhood Policy, Center for American Progress