Working to create a smarter, stronger, healthier & more productive America with high-quality child care and early education through bipartisan federal advocacy.
Washington, DC
Joined April 2011
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"I worked to secure this funding because every child deserves a strong start, and every family deserves access to quality early education."
We agree! Thank you @CongressmanKean for your continued support for federal investments in early childhood education.
Through the FY24 Community Project Funding process, I delivered nearly $3.8 million to the Greater Somerset County YMCA to expand and build preschool classrooms in the Somerville YMCA. I then worked with the New Jersey Department of Education to streamline the waiver and licensing process to ensure that the Somerville YMCA could open its doors to 60 students in the 2026-2027 school year.
I worked to secure this funding because every child deserves a strong start, and every family deserves access to quality early education. Today, those federal dollars are delivering real results right here in Somerville, with newly completed classrooms serving local children and families. This is exactly what bringing people together and getting things done in Washington should look like.
It is great to see the culmination of years of effort to secure this federal funding for the Somerville YMCA and to work with them to bring this project across the finish line.
Great to see @RepGonzalez at a Head Start festival, sharing the ways this important program serves children and families in South Texas and beyond!
Head Start programs benefit the whole family, preparing our youngest learners for the life ahead and providing parents with reliable childcare as they go to work.
It was a joy to attend NINOS Head Start’s Fall Festival in Los Fresnos and meet with the many Cameron and Willacy County families it serves. This year alone, I delivered $27.5 million for NINOS—and I’ll keep working to bring more funding for early childhood education, public schools, and vocational programs in South Texas.
11 state-level polls.
A national survey.
One clear message: No matter where they live, voters are concerned about affordability and the impact of child care costs on families.
And Congress needs to act.
Get the results from FFYF's polling nationally and across eleven states and congressional districts. 👇
What does the research tell us about Head Start’s success?
Watch to the end to hear from an FFYF policy expert on what the data tells us about Head Start's many proven benefits.
Head Start Awareness Month may be coming to a close but FFYF will continue its Head Start coverage at FFYF.org/2026HeadStart in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Check out this reminder from @RepMeuser about the importance of federal investments in Head Start programs to ensure that children have a great start in life.
It was great visiting the Bradford Tioga Head Start in Towanda this week to see firsthand the important work they do to prepare the next generation for success and support families in our community.
I am a huge supporter of the Head Start program and their mission to provide children with the educational, health, nutritional, and family services they need to get a great start in life.
I have been a strong supporter of Head Start in Congress and this year voted for an $85 million increase in Head Start funding for FY26.
Thank you to Hank Dunn, Executive Director Wendy Swingle, Assistant Executive Director Kim Sexauer, and everyone at Bradford-Tioga Head Start for having me and for helping children build a strong foundation.
Head Start serves more than half a million children across all 50 states!
Of the 435 congressional districts across the country, what percentage have Head Start centers serving children?
0%25%
0%38%
0%65%
100%100% - all 435
7 votes • 4 days"Access to quality, affordable child care is important for families, communities, and the economy."
We agree! Thank you, @RepBonamici for your continued support of child care and early learning.
FFYF First Look shares the day’s news on a variety of topics, ranging from the rising cost of child care to the latest legislation.
Start your day off with the latest stories from across the country to stay updated on child care and early learning.
Subscribe here: ffyf.org/five-minute-updates…
New statewide polling in Nebraska from FFYF and @FirstFiveNebr finds strong bipartisan agreement that child care is a serious challenge for working families in Nebraska.
73% of Nebraska voters say the ability to find and afford quality child care is a crisis or major problem.
NEW polling in Louisiana shows that some families are delaying having kids due to lack of affordable child care.
Get all the details from @LaRadioNetwork with insights from FFYF's @SarahRittling.
If you have kids, you know how expensive they can be. That’s why according to a poll from the First Five Years Fund, more than a quarter of Louisianans say they’re delaying starting a family.
louisianaradionetwork.com/20…
Head Start has a long history of giving kids a strong start through comprehensive early learning, health, and nutrition services– thank you @RepGilCisneros for your commitment to supporting this important program!
Worth a Read: @MeganCerullo from @CBSNews shares new data revealing that child care costs are rising faster than rent, putting even more pressure on family budgets.
And voters are feeling it: Our polling finds that 82% of voters say child care costs are part of the broader affordability crisis.
The SEED Act recognizes the early educators who make child care possible for millions of families and help power our economy every day.
Thank you @RepJimmyPanetta for championing this important legislation and sharing the ways it will benefit early educators in your community!
Great to work with Lisa Holbert, Director at the Cabrillo College Children’s Center & Lab School, on highlighting my recently enacted SEED Act for early childhood educators. The new law will allow pre-K teachers to deduct up to $350 in out-of-pocket classroom expenses from their federal income taxes beginning with the 2026 tax year. Proud to play my part in providing such a tax deduction and recognizing our teachers.
Head Start’s whole family approach is central to why Head Start works! 🏠
Celebration of Head Start Awareness Month continues with a new exploration of how Head Start's comprehensive service help kids AND their families.
Stay tuned next week for more on why Head Start is so important to communities nationwide!
Great to see @RepLucyMcBath at a Head Start center in her district highlighting the importance of investing in our youngest learners!
"Every story in that room came back to the same two problems: child care costs too much, and there aren’t enough spots for the families who need them."
True! Thank you @SenRubenGallego for uplifting the voices of Arizona's child care leaders, parents and providers.
Thank you to the child care leaders, parents, and providers who joined me at my town hall yesterday.
Every story in that room came back to the same two problems: child care costs too much, and there aren’t enough spots for the families who need them. We have to do better for Arizona's kids and families.
