The First Five Things to Know About: the House Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus

One of the easiest ways to become a #ChildCareChampion is by joining the Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus. The caucus hosts great events and briefings throughout the year to educate members on the importance of high-quality, accessible early education and child care for our nation’s children and working families. Every year, members of the Caucus gather child care providers and experts, business owners, and families to facilitate important conversations around topics like appropriations funding for federal child care programs and how that funding is used in states, ways to support working families in communities across the country to be able to access quality care, and opportunities to coordinate site visits to child care providers who are administering high-quality care and creating innovative ways to support working families.

The caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Castro (D-TX), Bonamici (D-WA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Hinson (R-IA). Together, they lead a bipartisan group of members as they  work to promote policy recommendations that improve and expand high-quality child care access in the United States.

Federal action on child care continues to be a key issue that Democrat and Republican lawmakers agree on. Voters agree too. In fact, 74% of voters say they believe that “increasing funding for child care and early childhood education programs is an important priority and a good use of tax dollars.”

Federal child care and early education programs help children develop important academic and social skills, and ensure parents have the care they need to go to work. The Pre-K and Child Care Caucus is committed to supporting key federal programs, and helping families struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care.

Joining the Bipartisan Child Care and Pre-K Caucus is easy! If you wish to join or have any questions about the Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, please contact either Eyole Mbongo (eyole.mbongo@mail.house.gov) with Congressman Joaquin Castro, Julia Reese (julia.reese@mail.house.gov) with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, Andrew Dunn (andrew.dunn@mail.house.gov) with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, or Matthew Clarkin (matthew.clarkin@mail.house.gov) with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.