UPLAN parent leaders are celebrating their successful advocacy with two co-sponsorships to the Child Care for Working Families Act – Representative Adam Smith and Senator Maria Cantwell, both from Washington state. This bill would lower the cost of child care and early learning for families, and promote pay increases and job opportunities for providers.
In May, Rep. Smith heard stories from UPLAN parent leaders of the barriers to access child care. Suad Farole, a parent from UPLAN member group Somali Parents Education Board and a constituent of Rep. Smith, led the effort.
In June, UPLAN parent leaders Janna Ryan, Lupe Mendoza, and Sonja Lennox from the Washington State Association for Head Start & ECEAP Parent Ambassadors visited Senator Cantwell. Janna shares a bit of their experience:
I let Senator Cantwell know that despite my husband and I both working full time outside the home, child care still costs as much as our mortgage. I told her that affordable child care goes hand in hand with other issues she’s concerned about, like affordable housing and job skills training…I made sure to end with a solid ask, ‘Can I count on you to support the Child Care for Working Families Act?’
Lupe, a single mother of 5, emphasized how this bill would have direct benefits to families at all income levels, nationwide! This bill would lift a financial burden from families, a burden that has held Lupe from going back to school.
UPLAN is part of a national push to gain more bill co-sponsors before the one year anniversary of the bill on September 14. Center for American Progress (CAP) has been a helpful partner in UPLAN’s strategy. Katie Hamm, CAP’s Vice President of Early Childhood Policy, said:
Parents are a powerful voice when it comes to educating elected officials on child care legislation, especially this bill. UPLAN members have been a critical partner as we work together to push for affordable, high-quality child care. When parents leaders like Janna and Lupe speak to their Members of Congress, we’ve seen that they listen.
UPLAN celebrates the powerful voices of parent leaders impacting federal policies to improve child care and early learning, and encourages you to join us! Check here to see if your Senator or Representative has signed on to the Child Care for Working Families Act. If they haven’t yet, write to them using this sample letter or call them using this phone script. Demand policies that work for our families!
