Enough with the BAH HUMBUG! Moms want child care and Head Start in the budget. TAKE ACTION

Dear Friend,

Tis the season of being merry and joyful, but for many families the striking reality of rising costs and squeezed budgets is leaving them out in the cold. It’s time for Congress to keep children and families in their hearts, today and everyday, by passing an FY 26 budget that ensures kids thrive all year round. 

Republican members of Congress have been BAH HUMBUGGING their way through the 2025 year across everything that impacts families – from food security, to healthcare, to early education. The cost of living is far too high for American families, and Republicans have only taken action to increase costs for moms across the country. 

As Congress negotiates the 2026 budget, one of the critical drivers of high costs for families with young kids is at risk to get worse if Congress doesn’t act. Child care already costs more than college tuition in a majority of states with families dealing with long wait lists if they can find care at all. [1]  According to the Center for Law and Social Policy, another year of stagnant funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) would mean about 24,000 fewer kids will have access to child care and that jumps to 50,000 if it extends to two years. [2]

Enough is enough! The ghosts of moms past, present, and future are here to tell these scrooges in Congress to not leave our kids and families out in the cold! 

We urge Congress to enact the Senate version of the FY26 LHHS spending bill, which includes increases to critical child care programs and Head Start! 

Republicans have a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone and they are squeezing, wrenching, gasping, scraping, and clutching at families who are already being squeezed impossibly tight by inflation, rising health care costs, and high housing and energy costs. Giving handouts to the ultra rich instead of looking out for hardworking families. 

And it’s not just hurting families, it’s hurting businesses and our economy. 

Right now, two-thirds of children from birth through age 12 have all available parents in the workforce. It should come as no surprise that the United States loses $122 billion each year in economic productivity and revenue due to child care disruptions in the workforce. [3] [4]  

Even a Scrooge can understand that is not good!

It’s time for leaders to set aside greed and move forward with a thankful heart, ensuring our kids and families aren’t left out in the cold. But we are going to need a lot more than three ghosts to get there, so after you sign, please forward this letter to friends, family, and all your kin and kith to make sure our message can’t be explained away with a bit of undigested beef. 

Thank you for all you do to spread joy, courage, and change today and everyday! 

Nina, Lauren, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

References 

[1] Child Care in America, Child Care Aware

[2] House Proposed Level Funding for CCDBG Would Mean Nearly 50,000 Children Lose Access Since Last Increase, CLASP 

[3] The Case for Child Care and Early Learning for All: Economic Prosperity, The Century Foundation 

[4] U.S. Child Care Crisis Is Holding Back The Workforce, Forbes

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