Dear Supporter,

ACNJ has been fighting for years for Congress to fully fund key health and child care programs. With the passage early this morning of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Congress has finally delivered a big win for New Jersey's kids.

The bipartisan compromise funding package will benefit tens of thousands of children across New Jersey, with:

• Expansion of funding to help low-income families access child care through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG),
• Funding for evidence-based home visiting programs for pregnant and new mothers through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, and
• Reauthorization of health insurance for children in low- and middle-income families for an additional 4 years through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), now extended through 2027.

This deal is a good deal for New Jersey's kids and provides stability to critical programs. Although this was not a perfect bill, the budget deal ensures that New Jersey's kids and families get some of the essential supports they need.

ACNJ thanks the Members of Congress who have championed these programs for New Jersey's kids.

Sincerely,

Cecilia Zalkind
ACNJ President/CEO