Congress has the opportunity to not only address the harrowing impacts of COVID-19 but invest in life-changing access to early learning opportunities.

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the child care sector was at risk, but now up to 1 in 3 child care providers and over 50% of minority-owned providers say that without additional help, they will be forced to close in the next three months.

We can’t do right by kids and families if we simply “go back to normal.” Our communities cannot fully recover from this pandemic without support for child care and any relief package would be incomplete without it.

The next COVID-19 funding package must include at least $40 billion in dedicated funding to save the child care sector, which would total $50 billion to the sector including the $10 billion in relief Congress passed in December. This will give both families and providers the resources and stability they need —  to continue providing care and allow parents to return to work.