Dear John,

The last of the supplemental federal relief funding for child care runs out today, pushing families, children, and educators to the brink of crisis. Without this funding, it will become even harder for child care programs to stay open, while families will be hit with even steeper costs. Congress must act now!

During the pandemic, Congress made the largest investment in child care since World War II through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), providing $24 billion in stabilization grants and $15 billion in supplemental funding. These funds helped states reduce waitlists, expand access, raise wages for early educators, and support families needing care during nontraditional hours. However, the stabilization funds expired a year ago, and the impact has been devastating—families, particularly Black and Latinx families, have faced higher child care costs with reduced access to affordable care. Without funding, early educators continue to struggle with burnout, staff shortages, and program closures. We are in a crisis that will only get worse without additional funding. This not only affects mothers and families, but extends to our communities and economy. Congress needs to act now.

Congress has the opportunity to take action by providing both an emergency investment of $16 billion to stabilize child care and robust, long-term federal investments to build a child care system that supports families, values educators, and strengthens our economy. Tell Congress to act swiftly and prioritize child care now.

In solidarity,

Shrija Shrestha
she/her
Campaign Associate
National Women's Law Center