ACT NOW! The Families First Coronavirus Response (“Families First”) Act
DEC joins our early learning partners at ZERO TO THREE in asking our DEC members to contact their Senators TODAY! This is a critical time for Families!
Thank you!
Peggy Kemp
DEC Executive Director
From ZERO TO THREE:
As our country struggles to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress must take swift action to ensure families have what they need to care for their young children. The Families First Coronavirus Response (“Families First”) Act, passed by the House, is a critical first step that will provide resources to address the pandemic and represents a down payment on what American families and babies need to get through this public health event. Now it’s the Senate’s turn. Contact your Senators TODAY to insist they pass this critical legislation. The Families First Act contains several key provisions that will bring needed stability to babies and families:
Increased funding for emergency medical assistance for the duration of the pandemic;
Increased funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to fight food insecurity as families lose wages and children lose access to free or reduced-price meals in school or child care;
Emergency paid sick days and paid leave to allow workers to stay home if they are sick or they need to care for a sick family member, or to care for children whose child care programs or schools are closed; and
Extended federal funding for unemployment compensation, offering essential money for families who lose their jobs in the crisis.
Contact your Senators TODAY and tell them that babies and families need the provisions of the Families First Act!
Call (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to each of your Senate offices. Not sure who represents you? Click here to find out.
Use the message below, either with a staffer or in a message:
My name is ____________. I’m a constituent, and I am calling to urge the Senator to support our state’s families and babies by passing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. To protect our state’s health, families must have the support they need to comply with public health recommendations, including emergency medical assistance, access to nutrition assistance programs, and emergency paid sick days and paid leave. I urge the Senator to take swift action to protect our families, today and into the future.
Can’t call? Click here to email your Senators. Passage of the Families First Act would be an important first step to address COVID-19, but we know that more must be done for infants and toddlers and the providers who care for them. ZERO TO THREE is committed to working with Congress to ensure families with young children have what they need throughout this crisis, and we will continue to regularly share information and urge action from our community. Together, we can be the Big Voices for Little Kids that are critically needed right now. Thank you for your action, Myra Jones-Taylor Chief Policy Officer
ZERO TO THREE
