“America’s moms celebrate the precedent-setting FY24 budget proposal the President released yesterday because it is the strongest budget proposal on paid family and medical leave and child care/early learning in our country’s history. It restores the fully refundable Child Tax Credit, which promises dramatic progress in reducing child poverty. It makes long-overdue reductions in health care and prescription drug costs, and provides coverage for those in states that have failed to expand Medicaid. It provides more funds for school meals and the Women, Infants and Children program. It makes urgently needed investments in maternal health. It makes a major increase in Title X family planning program funding and provides more support for home- and community-based services through Medicaid. It finally makes the wealthiest people and mega-corporations pay their fair share.

“At the same time, we are disappointed in the Biden administration’s approach to policing and immigration enforcement, and in particular the large funding increases for U.S. Department of Justice law enforcement programs. We hope to work with the Biden administration to move away from policing and prisons and instead make investments in the schools, services, care and opportunities that will finally create the healthy, just communities we all deserve. It is unfortunate that this budget may not do that. America’s moms urge the Biden administration to adjust its priorities on policing and immigration enforcement.

“The other priorities reflected in President Biden’s FY24 budget proposal, particularly related to the care infrastructure, will boost America’s families, strengthen businesses and our economy, and make our nation stronger and more successful. The Biden administration is proposing to build the kind of care infrastructure this country urgently needs, and to provide essential supports for hardworking families.

“And moms across the nation do appreciate the investment this budget proposal would make in addressing the terrible backlog in processing claims for citizenship and sanctuary, so that more immigrant and mixed-status families can remain together. 

“Families are still in a state of emergency, and are living, working, and struggling without care infrastructure policies that are essential, including paid family and medical leave, child care, home- and community-based services, the Child Tax Credit, and health care. This budget meets the care emergency that families are facing. Now Congress must support the historic care infrastructure components it includes. This budget proposal is responsible, responsive, and badly needed.

“The leadership the President is demonstrating in listening to the care infrastructure needs of moms, dads, caregivers, and families, and offering solutions that lift businesses and our economy while opening avenues for families to thrive, is groundbreaking. This is the leadership moms are looking for right now.”