Tell Congress: All working families deserve paid leave and access to quality, affordable child care.

The science is clear. Our brains grow faster between the ages of 0 and 3 than any later point in life.

When babies have nurturing relationships, positive early learning experiences, and good health and nutrition, a strong foundation is laid for the rest of their lives. When babies don't get what their growing brains need to thrive, they don't develop as they should. This leads to life-long developmental, educational, social, and health challenges.

But the sad reality is that the majority of working families must make impossible choices between economic stability and what their babies and toddlers need: dedicated time together to foster early brain connections and bond with and care for their babies and quality, affordable child care that sets babies on a solid path to healthy development.

The solution: comprehensive paid leave policies and access to quality, affordable child care.

A national comprehensive paid leave program will give families time to bond with their babies, and care for family members with a serious illness. With better child care solutions, more babies and toddlers, including children with disabilities, will receive support to arrive at school ready to learn, with long term impacts on future success.

Parents, caregivers, and child care providers are on the frontlines of preparing our future workers and leaders. Let's get them the support they need.

Urge Congress to invest in our nation's future by supporting comprehensive paid family and medical leave policies and quality, affordable child care solutions for working families.

Dear [elected official],


I am writing to urge you to support comprehensive paid family and medical leave policies and quality, affordable child care solutions for working families.


The vast majority of parents must make impossible choices between their economic security and taking the time they need to bond with and care for their babies. On top of that, only 4 percent of infants and toddlers living in low- or moderate-income families receive child care subsidies to help offset the skyrocketing cost of care. Your support will help ensure that families in our community gain access to comprehensive paid leave and quality, affordable child care that meaningfully addresses the issues of raising children in the United States.


The first three years of a baby's life shape all the rest. Paid leave gives families crucial time to foster early brain connections and bond with their babies, as well as care for children with serious illness. To truly address the real needs of working families, any paid leave solution must:



  • Be funded in a way that is affordable for workers, employers, and the government without harming other essential programs;

  • Provide comprehensive coverage of personal medical and family caregiving needs as reflected in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA);

  • Give a meaningful duration of leave to allow people sufficient time to meet their care and health needs– at least 12 weeks – and a wage replacement rate and benefit level that makes taking leave financially possible for everyone;

  • Be inclusive of all working people, no matter where they live or the nature of their job; and

  • Protect workers from retaliation or adverse employment consequences for requesting or taking leave.


Access to quality, affordable child care prepares babies for future learning and success, including cognitive skills, higher scores on math and language measures, and social and emotional skills. Any child care proposal must ensure:



  • All children can receive quality child care;

  • Families can access the quality setting that best meets their needs;

  • Families can get the financial support they need to afford quality child care; and

  • Early childhood professionals in all settings can receive the support, resources, and level of compensation they deserve as they provide quality care.


Parents, caregivers, and child care providers are on the frontlines of preparing our future workers and leaders. I urge you to invest in our babies – our nation's future – by supporting comprehensive solutions for working families. Because when babies thrive, we all benefit.


[Your comment]


Sincerely,


[Your name]

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