Early Care & Education Association's executive director Amy Brooks testified on NH's child care shortage at a U.S. Senate committee hearing

Amy Brooks testifies in front of the U.S. Senate

We are thrilled to share that Early Care & Education Association Executive Director Amy Brooks testified before the U.S. Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in April sharing the perspective of more than 120 Vermont and New Hampshire family and center-based practitioners. ECEA is an Upper Valley-based grantee of the Couch Family Foundation.

Brooks outlined the need to improve access to early care and education services for families and improve the financial viability of child care businesses. Former NH Governor and current U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen chairs the Senate committee.

Brooks told the committee that the market-based system isn’t working and needs additional public investment “for parents to finally afford the true cost of care; child care businesses to raise wages, invest in paid professional development opportunities, and potentially expand operational hours.”

Read Amy’s full testimony on the Senate Committee’s website. The full hearing can be watched here (Amy starts at 54:03).

Additional coverage may be viewed here.