Fund Head Start and CCDBG
The First Five Years Fund tells us this: Congress is back in session, and lawmakers have until January 30th to pass legislation to fund the government through 2026. The stakes are high for families with young children. Federal programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) make it possible for more families to find and afford the quality care and early learning they need. But they need the stability that comes from a full-year spending bill. Last July, Senate Appropriators proposed increasing funding for both CCDBG and Head Start. Now it’s time to get that over the finish line to support children and families in all fifty states
This is the moment to act: Tell your Member of Congress: Pass the Senate FY26 Labor-H appropriations bill and prioritize funding for child care and early learning programs for a full year.
Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
In addition, in both the Senate and the House, there are Bills being considered to vastly expand the Federal investment in the first five years. While you’re advocating for the appropriations described above, please also advocate for fuller funding for the first five years, as New Mexico and New York City are doing. Parents, children, and we who care for children all need that help.
Finally, while you’re on the line, please ask your Senators and your Representative to support and vote for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The Senate already has approved it, but it will face some changes in the House. The Bill would require social media companies to prevent children younger than adolescents from getting engaged in social media, which has been shown to be exploiting children’s trust, generosity, and vulnerability. In addition, we hope that you can urge families with children in your care to avoid buying artificial intelligence toys for their children. These toys exploit the children in much the same ways as social media. We also support school and child care policies to keep cell phones and tablets out of our classrooms. They tend to get in the way of relationships of trust and care between children and the adults who care for them. Fairplay for Children, which PEACE has worked closely with for over 25 years, has many resources to help you in these efforts.
Thank you for speaking up and standing with families and children across the country!
