Dear Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, Representative DeLauro, Representative Larson, Representative Courtney, Representative Esty and Representative Himes,

We urge you to increase funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant by $2.9 billion in the FY 2018 appropriations bill as proposed by the Democratic leadership. This substantial investment in access to high-quality child care will help parents work, boost the well-being of children, and make our economy stronger.

New rules that came with the 2014 bipartisan reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant increased the cost of operating Connecticut’s Care4kids childcare subsidy program by $33 million. With no new funds the state closed the program for 15 months resulting in 10,000 fewer children being served by November of 2017.

The requested doubling of the discretionary funding for CCDBG ($2.9 billion) would provide Connecticut with an additional $18 million to help with the Care4kids shortfall.  Nationally, the new funds will allow nearly 230,000 additional children to receive child care assistance giving low- income parents financial help to afford high-quality child care so they can work.

In order to realize such a substantial investment in child care, it is critical that you support increasing the budgetary caps on domestic spending.  Only by raising the caps and providing a proportionate increase in funding to the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bill, can this increase in the CCDBG be achieved.

We look forward to working with you to make this investment that would benefit our children, our families, and our country.

Sincerely,

Merrill Gay, Executive Director, Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance

Ellen Shemitz, Connecticut Voices for Children

Michelle Slimak, Chair, Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington

Janet Stolfi Alfano, The Diaper Bank

Paul Vivian, Meriden Children First

Gerald Pastor, Educational Playcare & CT Child Care Association

Marilyn Calderón, CT Parent Power

Jessica Sager, All Our Kin

Julie Clark, CAST Preschool and Childcare Center

John L. Cattelan, Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs

Denise Duclos, New Haven Early Childhood Council

Elizabeth Quinones, Precious Memories I

Jill Lamberti

Kyle Miller, M.Ed, Phyllis Bodel Childcare Center at Yale School of Medicine

Patricia O'Hanlon, Westville Community Nursery School

Bette Allen, St. Francis & St. Rose of Lima School Readiness Preschool

Amanda Canuelas, St. Francis & St. Rose of Lima School Readiness Preschool

Alyssa Coppola, St. Francis & St. Rose of Lima School Readiness Preschool

Mikyle Byrd-Vaughn, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Noraleen Dunphy , Child and Family Guidance Center Bridgeport CT

Carla M. Horwitz, Greater New Haven Chapter of the CT Affiliate for the Education of Young Children

Cheryl Burack, Family Centered Services of CT, Inc.

Sarah Chambers, Gateway Community College Early Learning Center

Priscilla Henchman, St. Paul's Child Development Center

Riana Labastida, St. Andrew's Child Care Center

Mimi Bryant, The Little Schoolhouse

Donna Perry, Killingworth Kids Center

Hector R. Burgos, Hall Neighborhood House

Adeli De Arce, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Auria Roque, LULAC Head Start Inc

Allison Logan, Bridgeport Prospers/United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

Marisol Galarza, LULAC Head Start Inc.

April Kilgore, Montessori School on Edgewood

Pamela Hinton, Cheyenne's Early Learning Center

Stalita Rembert, Lindsey’s House Early Learning Center

Jeanette Harris, Genesis A Mission Start of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Tomika Belton, Lindsey’s House Early Learning Center

Martha E. Canas, Catholic Charities Centro San Jose CDC

Jeannette Sorrells, Lindsey’s House Early Learning Center

Andreia Winstead, Lindsey’s House Early Learning Center

Vanessa Galarza, Lulac  Head Start Inc.

Julia Campos, Lulac Head Start Inc.

Janic Maysonet, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Cindy Praisner, Collaborative for Colchester's Children

Linda Townsend Maier

Devin Stephens, Child Care Director, Bridgeport YMCA

Debra Hughes, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Catherine Escobar, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Patricia Covino, ST. Paul’s Child Development Center

Robin Lamott Sparks, Coalition for New Britain's Youth

Jeffrey Daniels, Jeffrey Daniels Consulting

Izzi Greenberg, Middlesex Coalition for Children

Glory J. Smith, Morning Glory Early Learning Center LLC

Peggy A. Moales, Kingdom's Little Ones Academy

Dr. James F. Acabbo

Lynn Reichart, Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT

Marjorie Weiner, Gateway Community College

Gladys Deutsch, Early Childhood Consultant

Susan Radway, Riverfront Children's Center

Aida Gonzalez, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Olga Mercado, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Denise Delgado, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Evelyn Leon, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Tricia Godfrey, Hamden's Partnership for Young Children

Tracey Madden-Hennessey, YWCA New Britain

Sherri Franceschi, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Jennifer Chapman

Kristin Lund, Housatonic Community College Early Childhood Laboratory School

Cynthia Velazquez, Precious Memories IV

Betty Baisden, United Community Nursery School

Alyssa Tejada, Early Childhood Laboratory School, Housatonic Community College

Sharon L. Kelley, Julia Day Nursery of Ansonia, Inc.

Marta Saklawska, Creative Starts Learning Center

Maria DonAroma, Tender Care Learning Center

Lisbeth Condo, Cornerstone Children's Center

Penny Lehman, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Virginia Rodriguez, LULAC Head Start Inc.

Karina Estrella, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Denise Dionizio, Harmony Kids CT, LLC

Edie Reichard, Sleeping Giant Day Care, Inc.

Wanda Guerrero

Jamell Cotto, Farnam Community New Haven, CT

Suzanna Lim, Early Childhood Labratory School

Jill Mahoney, Naugatuck Partnership for Children

Lisa Burton, Hamden Early Learning Program

Colleen Curtin, Childrens Learning Center of Fairfield County

Jerry Reisman, Ph.D., CT Head Start Association

Michele Eathorne, YWCA New Britain

Carly Marenna, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Angelina Opoku

Latrice Grumley, Human Resource Agency of New Britain, Inc.

Erika Lopez, CLC Children's Learning Centers Of Fairfield County

Debbie Plourde, Catholic Charities

Mary Savino, YWCA Hartford Region

Andrea Cox, Housatonic Community College Early Childhood Lab School

Maria Penedo-Warren, Clifford Beers Clinic

Lynn DePina, Norwich Public Schools Preschool

Erica Phillips, All Our Kin

Robin Brochu, Mayflower Montessori School

Barbara Eckner, Valley YMCA Child Care Center

Amy Anderson, Community Solutions, Inc.

Mary Basso, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Liz Brown

Brenda Stapleton, Family Matters Community Center

Mercedes Blye, Headstart

Amy Litke, New Britain Public Library

Kathleen A. Weinzierl, Sandbox Daycare, Sandbox, Too and Sandbox of Bethel

Tamara Joseph, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Martha Baylock, New Britain Public Library

Lauren Dalvito, Harmony Kids

Denise Martens, New Britain Public Library

Amy Anderson, Consolidated School District of New Britain, Connecticut

Laurie Wojnarowski, Cozy Bear Day Care

Kemisha Stabbs Honegan, Child Care Provider

Mireille Esponda, Alphabet Academy

John Benigni, Meriden New Britain Berlin YMCA

Christina Knighton

Vicki Armstrong, Consolidated School District Of New Britain Family Resource Center

Alison Wunder Stahl, All Our Kin

Catherine A. Vanicky, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Richard Vanicky, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Aleksey Vanicky, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Joesph McLoughlin, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Bridget McLoughlin, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Justin DePasquale, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Aubrie DesPaquale, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Cynthia Russell, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Erik Silva, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Catherine Lambert, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Alex Kapilotis, Kids World Childcare, LLC

Jason Lambert, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Jennifer Cortez, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Lance Cortez and family, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Jackie Valle and family, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Amy Stellato and family, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Amy Olsvasky and family, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Luz Cruz, Honey Bear Learning Center, Stratford

Linda Jordan, The Parent Child Resource Center

Donna Voisine, Apple Dumpling Daycare& ECCS Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington

Ann Steele

Joanne Kelleher, Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington

Wanda Guerrero, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Beth Genovese, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Tamarah Smith, The Wallingford Community Day Care Center

Catherine N Cheney, New Britain Public Library

Ruth Paul, Naugatuck YMCA

Carrie Ann Olsen, Sharon Day Care Center

Laura Davidson, Amistad High School

Abel Padro, West Haven Community House, Assc.

Laura Watson, The Bristol Early Childhood Alliance

Maegan Adams, School Readiness

Gary Redman, Wallingford Community Day Care Center

Nadine Horton, Yale School of Medicine

Lori Osber, Tender Care Learning Center

Nicole DePaoli , Maria Symour Brooker Memorial

Frankie White, St. Mark's Day Care Center,Inc.

Mary-Jo DiPasquale, Meriden YMCA

Dawn Grace, Dawn' s Early Light

Regina Miller, Early Childhood Consultant

Kimberly Mansfield, Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children

Myrna Felix, CRT

Ingrid Henlon, Mt. Olive Child Development Center

Janet Georgen, St. Paul's Child Development

Ursula Giroux, Forever Young Child Care Learning Center

Ayaceli Martinez, Housatonic Community College Lab School

David Kulick, Kaplan Early Learning Company

Joan Parris, Norwalk Community College

Donnah Swaby, Consolidated School District of New Britain

Heidi Maderia, CT-AIMH

Michelle Bailey, CT Association for the Education of Young Children

Eva Bermudez

Lisa Osterberg,Executive Director, Kangaroos Korner Inc.

Marjorie Glater, Mother Goose Children's Center

Beena Achhpal, CTAEYC Board Member

Michelle Dent

Elizabeth Grant-McBroom, CLC of Fairfield County

Rosalie Witt

Carol Annette, Independent consultant

Eileen Vazquez, Trinity College Community Child Center

Carmen Lydia Vazquez

Adrienne Ricciardi, CTHAEYC

Linda Lacasse, First Church Academy for Young Children

Xiomara Lopez, CLC

Nancy D. Hayes, Carter, Hayes + Associates, PC

Jane Frankel, New Britain Public Library

Carol Hammond, United Methodist Preschool, New Canaan

Hannah G. Croasmun, Christian Community Action (New Haven)

Emily Goldschmid, Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

Jill Keating Herbst , All Our Kin

Mary-Alice Petrucelli-Timek, Bristol CT School Readiness

Robin E. Comey, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Catherine Plourde-SHSC, Bristol -Burlington Health District

Alice-Anne Harwood Sherrill, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Sarah Cohen, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Diane Taylor, CTAEYC-CT Assoc for the Education of Young Children

Lisa Kozak, Town of Enfield Child Development Center

Bruce Storm, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Yomaira Colon, PAVE New Britain

Robin Golia, ABC Learn with Me, Inc.

Christiane Maiorana, Clifford Beers

Kieran Maiorana, Yale Child Study

Ellen Michaels, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Wendy L. Lanford

Regina Satterthwaite, Shoreline School of Montessori

Vivian Alvarez

Karen Papacoda, Early Childhood Lab School at HCC

K. Mateen, Bumble & Tumble Daycare

Lorna Barton, Family Daycare

Robin Willoughby , Child Care Provider

Carmen A. Ortiz, Anna Day Care

Alethea Thompson

Angela Anderson, Child Care Provider

Tammy Trocola

Michele Linane, A Child's Garden

Yanesly Lanzo, Child Care Provider

Laura Noe, Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Raye Wilson, Rkm All Souls Family Daycare

Jennifer Highsmith

Robin Sharp, YWCA New Britain

Catherine S Jackson & Peter Jackson, Parents, grandparents & Branford Early Childhood Collaborative

Lorraine Reid, Day Care Provider

Maria M Burgos, Day Care

Brandi Watson

Josephine Letourneau

Judy Barney, Judy’s Daycare

Alex Barney

Sarah Barney

Vincent Costen

Virginia Novak

Michael Costen

Atma Singh-Beharry, Child Care Provider

Robert Mannarino, The Windsor Learning Center, Inc.

Nicole Farnham, Building Blocks of Windsor, Inc.

Diane Pappacoda, Director, Branford Early Learning Center

Melissa DeLucia, Branford Early Learning Center

Lisa Broderick, Branford Early Learning Center

Beth Brockett , Branford Early Learning Center

Gamila Elbashir, Weeducare Academy

Barbara Uzialko

Karen Pascale

Robin McKnnon, Home daycare

Susan Glennon, Licensed Childcare Provider and member Milford, CT DTC

Willeen Gibson

Shanakay Batton

Saris Obanyoun, Child Care

Sithy Sabeeba Mohideen Huot, Hamden Early Learning Program

Barbara J. Thomas

Tennille Smalls, Gentle Hands Academy Daycare

Madelyn Matos

Sandra I Perez, Family Child Care Provider

Caroline Maisonet

Oseli Perez, Oseli Perez Family Daycare

Lori Ceccorulli

Dawn Demers

Angela Wing, Angel Wing's Daycare

Jeannine Lewis, SEIU Child Care Provider

Lucita King, Lu’s Day Care

Luz Tsiralidis, CLC of Fairfield County

Lottie Brown, Child Care Provider

Johanna Solete, Director, Educare Learning Academy

Wanda Cobbs, CSEA SEIU LOCAL 2001

Talhaht Mannan

Luisa Rojas

Cureene Blake, Aalia and Ricardo Family Child Care

Alffe Blake

Rochelle LeSure

Shereka Stevens

Rhonda Knowles, SEIU Local 2001,CSEA

Kimberly L. Dole, TVCCA Little Learners

Nancy Smith, TVCCA Little Learners Early Education Program

Nancy Galvin

Leticia Hernandez

Susan Slattery

Rose Moriello, Busy Beaver Extended Day Program

Lois Walker

Wanda Cobbs, CSEA SEIU LOCAL 2001

Talhaht Mannan

Luisa Rojas

Cureene Blake, Aalia and Ricardo Family Child Care

Alffe Blake

Rochelle LeSure

Shereka Stevens

Rhonda Knowles, SEIU local 2001,CSEA

Kimberly L. Dole, TVCCA Little Learners

Nancy Smith, TVCCA Little Learners Early Education Program

Nancy Galvin

Leticia Hernandez

Susan Slattery

Rose Moriello, Busy Beaver Extended Day Program