A children’s budget is a deliberate and full accounting of all the money spent on and for children. Because such spending is spread out over many departments and dozens of bureaus, there currently is no simple way to evaluate the overall level of federal investment in children. Comparing levels across years is an equally difficult task. A children’s budget would gather together the diverse sources of funding for children’s programs in one place to communicate a clear picture of the federal investment in America’s young people.
The Children’s Budget Act would amend section 31 U.S.C. 1105 of the United States Code to require the inclusion of a “Children’s Budget” as part of the President’s annual budget request. This fact sheet provides an overview of the legislation and outlines the impact it will have on children and families.