Child Care Needs Congress’ Attention
Your Senators and Representatives (including newly elected ones) Need to Hear from You!
The current Congress is winding down, with most attention focused on the big political issues that will be addressed quite differently in 2025. Child Care legislation to help families afford high quality child care and help the profession get a living wage has widespread bipartisan support, but it’s not getting much attention. Similarly, the Kids’ Online Safety Act, sponsored by our friends at Fairplay for Children opens in a new tab and passed by the Senate, is having difficulty getting on the House’s agenda, because Speaker Johnson is preoccupied with other priorities.
In these circumstances, the best we can do (besides caring for children in trying times) is to contact our Senators and Representatives opens in a new tab, as well as any newly elected successors, to re-emphasize the importance of a comprehensive investment by Congress in a high quality, subsidized child care for all American families, including a living wage for all child care providers.
In the meantime, please give yourself some time and care, so that you can enjoy the holidays, fully aware of our blessings as well as our challenges.
Call on Congressional Leadership
Pass the Bipartisan Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act Now
Over the past three years, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Pueblo) has led delegations of federal officials to visit Tribal communities, listening to survivors and their families and reviewing government records about the boarding schools.
A preliminary report from earlier this year shows that nearly 1,000 Native children died at over 500 boarding schools across the country.
To build and expand on this report, we’re supporting legislation in Congress known as the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. This important bill has bipartisan support in the U.S. House and Senate.
Right now, as Congress works before the convening of the new session of Congress and the next administration takes over, the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is on Capitol Hill meeting with senators and members of Congress.
Will you take a moment to sign and send a message opens in a new tab urging your members of Congress to pass the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act now?
The preliminary study made great strides detailing the harm caused by boarding schools. It also exposed the financial costs, finding that the federal government spent the equivalent of $23 billion in today’s dollars on the school system.
Imagine if that money had been invested in our communities instead of being used to separate families.
It’s long past time for action. The study was just the beginning. True healing requires accountability, justice, and memorials honoring those who were lost.
That’s why passing the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act is now more important than ever.
We’re locking in the bipartisan support needed to put it over the top and pressuring Congressional leaders to bring it to a vote without delay. Please back up our work on the ground by signing and sending your message opens in a new tab now.
Hawwih (thank you) for working to honor our ancestors by taking action today.
Judith LeBlanc (Caddo)
Executive Director,
Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund
More background on Native Residential Schools. opens in a new tab
