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Dear Friend,
Growing up Latina, I would hear family members say “lo barato sale caro”
when something that we hadn’t invested a lot of money in would break –
what they meant is you get what you pay for… like when you buy the dollar
store water toy your kid begs you for, and then it breaks on the way
home.
[ [link removed] ]Urge Congress to stop cutting child care that families and our economy
need by passing the Child Care Stabilization Act before moms and kids pay
the price!
This idea, “Lo barato sale caro” doesn’t only apply to toys. When we don’t
prioritize quality, when we use “lo barato” and underinvest, then we lose
out, and as a nation – and we end up losing out BIG time when it comes to
doing what is best for our families and economy. It’s not fair that
hardworking families don't have the foundation they really need so they
can work and take care of their families, and in the long run – it ends up
costing us, not only as families, but as a community, as businesses, as
an economy, and as an entire country.
The dual forces of an already-crumbling child care system from chronic
underfunding and a global pandemic have thrust child care further into a
state of crisis.
Why? Because LO BARATO SALE CARO! And Congress knows this because they
already took some first bold and necessary steps to invest critical funds
to stabilize the child care market which saved our system from total
collapse during the height of the pandemic. But those funds expire this
month - and without continued investment, child care providers, families,
and our economy are headed toward a giant cliff.
All told, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stabilization dollars that
saved the child care sector from collapse are expiring at the end of
September and projections show that 3.2 million children could lose their
child care as a result. [1]
[ [link removed] ]But help is on the way! The Child Care Stabilization Act was
introduced recently to provide at least $16 billion per year in emergency
child care dollars to address this, while laying the groundwork for the
sustained and transformative funding needed to ensure high-quality,
affordable child care is accessible for all families.
[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: Don’t make families, kids, businesses, and the economy
pay the price. It’s time to pass the Child Care Stabilization Act!
During Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s talk about how "lo barato sale caro"
when it comes to the chronic underinvestment in our country’s child care
system and how that hurts our economy:
* Research indicates that for every $1 invested in child care and early
learning programs, there is $7-10 return on investment. [2] So, for
every $1 that isn’t invested, we are LOSING $7-10 going back into our
economy. Lo barato sale caro.
* The United States spends less than 0.5 percent of its GDP on child
care, which is far less than most OECD countries. This puts the USA at
an economic disadvantage. Lo barato sale caro. [3]
* Parents, mostly moms, are being pushed out of the workforce due to
unaffordable child care – and that means less income brought home and
into communities as well as supply chain and staffing issues in
businesses. Lo barato sale caro.
* The United States is at risk of losing an estimated $64.5 billion in
economic activity from women’s aggregate lost wages due to the lack of
child care and their need to reduce hours or leave the workforce. Lo
barato sale caro. [ [link removed] ]
* Ensuring child care for all could add 2.2 million jobs to the economy,
increasing GDP by $274 billion. Lo barato sale caro. [ [link removed] ]
[4]**Take action to tell elected leaders that our families, communities,
businesses, economy, and country lose when they don’t solve the child care
crisis.
Resourcing early education, like child care and pre-k, makes sense not
only on an economic level, but also on a child development level: Our
babies’ brains develop the most in the first five years of life–In fact,
90 percent of brain growth happens before kindergarten. [ [link removed] ]
It’s the moment to invest in a solid foundation for our babies’ brains –
when we invest in the early years– we set them up for success later on.
[ [link removed] ]
The good news is that right now Congress is working on the budget for
FY2024 and they have the ability to set priorities and choose what they
invest in – and we need to tell them to fully fund the programs that lift
all families – including early education like child care and pre-k.
[5]Click here to tell Congress that when we don’t invest in families, we
are hurting our economic well-being as a nation. Lo barato sale caro.
Families can’t wait! Parents can’t wait! We need Congress to act now.
Thank you and gracias for all you do for working families across the
country.
Diana, Nina, Nadia, Lauren, Linda and the entire MomsRising/MamásConPoder
team
References:
[1] The Century Foundation, [6]Child Care Cliff: 3.2 Million Children
Likely to Lose Spots with End of Federal Funds
[2] James Heckman, [7]Four Big Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood
Development
[3] OECD report, [ [link removed] ]Public spending on childcare and early education
[4] The Century Foundation, [ [link removed] ]How COVID-19 Sent Women’s Workforce
Progress Backward: Congress’ $64.5 Billion Mistake
[5] The Century Foundation, [ [link removed] ]The Case for Child Care and Early Learning
for All: Economic Prosperity
[6] First Things First, [ [link removed] ]Brain Development
[7] James Heckman, [ [link removed] ]Four Big Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood
Development
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