To whom it may concern:
Investing in dependable and affordable child care is essential for parents to support their children and participate in the workforce. Despite working families being the key contributors to our workforce, they are the first to bear the effects of a bad economy. Rising costs and inflation have destroyed budgets, making it more and more out of reach for parents and families across the state to find high-quality, affordable child care. The data shows that businesses lose $23 billion annually due to insufficient childcare infrastructures.
Please vote YES on HB24-1223, a bill that builds on the existing Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) that thousands of families already depend on. Colorado families deserve a stable system of child care that they can count on.
HB24-1223 was recently heard in the House Health & Human Services Committee, where it adopted amendments that significantly reduced the fiscal note while keeping the intention of the bill intact.
HB24-1223 will help parents and providers by streamlining and strengthening the CCCAP program by:
-Protecting parent and child privacy by collecting information that is only necessary to determine eligibility.
-Stabilizing Colorado's child care infrastructure by establishing a uniform statewide CCCAP application process (reducing administrative burdens for the state and counties.)
-Keeping parents working and healthy by setting presumptive eligibility criteria after a family has submitted their initial application so families can access care faster when they need it.
Please PRIORITIZE HB24-1223 and VOTE YES on this crucial bill that will open the door to stronger families, thriving small businesses, and healthy communities. HB24-1223 makes much-needed investments in affordable child care services and gets children connected to quality child care.
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Sincerely,
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