• House Bill Cuts Non-Security Discretionary FundingThe
  Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a report analyzing the impact of the budget cuts currently being debated in Congress. The bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives, but is awaiting Senate approval, would reduce the funding of non-security discretionary funding. The budget cuts would affect many programs including the Head Start Program, causing at-risk children to lose education, health, and other important services, as well as other programs that service low-income families.
  
  
• Tracking Investments in Children
  First Focus has published two new reports, Children's Budget 2010 and Kid's Share 2010, analyzing federal investments in children. The reports cover federally funded children's programs as well as federal spending trends and tax policies that affect children.
  
  
• 2012 Budget Proposal
  President Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal includes increases in investments to child care, early childhood education, Head Start and child nutrition but reduces funding to key programs related to juvenile justice. For detailed information on how the President's fiscal year 2012 budget would affect programs and services for children and families, view the at a glance budget summary and issue specific summaries from First Focus and an analysis of the budget by Voices for America's Children.
  
  
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Resources Prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Obama includes significant resources to address the needs of children and families. View the policy briefs prepared by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT on key provisions of the Act in the areas of health insurance, early care and education, income supports and K-16 education.

Government Sites

U.S. Senate
Track specific bills, view active legislation and find recent floor activity.

U.S. House of Representatives
Check the status of a bill, find your representative, access U.S. Federal statutes, and link to current events and debate on the House floor.

The White House
View updates on current federal issues.

FirstGov.gov
Find federal agencies, contact the government, link information resources by topic.

Regulations.gov
Search open regulations and submit comments by agency or keyword.

Federal Legislative Tracking System
Search the text of current federal bills, view updates of the House and Senate floor and committee calendars, see the outcomes of specific roll call votes.

National Organizations

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Policy updates with regard to special education.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Policy related to early childhood education.

Family Violence Prevention Fund
Policy related to domestic violence.

American Psychological Association
Children, families, and mental health.

National Association of Children’s Hospitals (NACH)
Children’s health policy.

Foundation for Child Development (FCD)
Policy information related to pre-kindergarten, immigrant children, and general child well-being.

National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)
Policy briefs on children in poverty.