I was excited to see in the news a discussion about the importance of investing in early childhood. The first years of life are the most critical for children’s brain development. I found this out firsthand. My daughter had very few words from 0 to 3, and without the help of early childhood programs her speech may not be where it is today.
That is why I was pleased that Congress voted earlier this year to double funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). CCDBG helps low- and middle-income families afford child care. We must call on Congress to continue these effective investments and ensure CCDBG receives this historic level of funding again in FY19.