URGENT: SENATE VOTES March 7 and March 8 on 368,000 Children in Child Care and Head Start

The federal spending for the remainder of this year remains in play and March 8 is a critical day in the United States Senate. Tuesday March 8, the United States Senate is going to take up the House-passed spending bill for the remainder of the year, HR 1.  If the Senate passes HR 1, then 368,000 children will lose child care, Head Start and Early Head Start. In addition, HR 1 would also cut Title I and special education funds, as well as other important programs to children’s school and life success. 

The Senate will propose an Alternative (no bill number) that would sustain investments child care, Head Start and other education funds and make far fewer cuts to children’s and education programs. That Alternative deserves a Yes vote from your Senators. 

To recap, there will be 2 critical votes in the Senate as early as tomorrow:

VOTE NO ON HR 1. If passed, HR 1 would cut 368,000 children currently served by child care, Head Start and Head Start. Maintaining current funding for child care and Head Start/Early Head Start is essential to our economy by helping families work, children learn, and keeping an important workforce intact.

Instead, vote YES on the SENATE ALTERNATIVE that would keep our investments in early childhood education that are critical not only for school and later workforce success, but that reap greater rewards for our nation’s economic growth.

How to email or call:

To email your Senators, go to http://www.naeyc.org/policy/action

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121 and ask for your Senator’s office. When you connect, please leave the message to vote NO on HR 1 and Yes on the Alternative. Do the same call with your other Senator.

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