Late last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the FY 2011 Consolidated Appropriations Act from the Senate floor, eliminating any chance for the passage of an omnibus spending bill in this 111th Congress. The omnibus contained much needed funding for Head Start & Early Head Start, childcare, and the Early Learning Challenge Fund.
Instead of an omnibus bill, both the House and Senate will consider another short-term continuing resolution (CR), this time expected to last through March 4, 2011. Like past CRs, the latest CR will maintain spending at FY 2010 funding levels for most programs (including Head Start, Early Head Start, and childcare). The passage of another CR means it will be up to the next (112th) Congress to take up and determine FY 2011 spending levels. It is likely that Head Start/Early Head Start and childcare will face funding cuts (below the FY 2010 funding levels contained in the CR) in the new Congress.
