NAEYC Update

May 5, 2005

FOR MOTHER'S DAY: ASK CONGRESS TO GIVE THE GIFT OF QUALITY AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE

WHAT'S AT STAKE: Since fiscal year 2002, Congress has not given an increase to the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the funds that provide child care subsidies for low-income working families and quality dollars in states for resource and referral, licensing, professional development, and compensation initiatives. Child care is funded two ways. One part of the funding is mandatory funds, which grow only in the reauthorization of CCDBG, which has been stalled for 3 years. The other part of the funding comes from the discretionary funding appropriations bill, which is decided each year. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees currently are preparing their bills for this coming fiscal year.

ACTION:
Call or email your members of Congress on MAY 10, 2005 and remind them that they need to help mothers and families with affordable, quality child care. Hardworking families deserve it; children need it. Congress must provide an additional $1 billion in discretionary for fiscal year 2006 and to say "no" to harsh budget cuts to programs that help children and families.

HOW:
Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask for your Senators and Representative. Or send an email by going to www.naeyc.org/policy click on "Action Center" A box next to "Elected Officials" will appear; type in your zip code. Write your email and send it.

MESSAGE POINTS:
There has been no increase in the child care program for three years, even though only 1 in 7 eligible children is receiving assistance. This means many hardworking families can't afford safe, quality child care while they work.

The budget decisions are a statement about our nation's priorities. Child care to help children become ready for school and for parents to be able to work must be an investment priority for our nation.

When the federal investment does not grow, states have to cut back on the families they can serve, expand the waiting list for help, or cut quality initiatives. This means more children lose out on affordable, quality child care. But Congress has the opportunity to help more children this year.