DEC Stands With You! A Message in Response to the Passage of H.R. 1

A message to all who serve and care for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families in response to the passage of H.R.1 - the reconciliation bill - by the Congress and the anticipated signing of the bill by the President on July 4, 2025. 

Today, we share your feelings of sadness, grief, anger, and disbelief. We share with you a lack of understanding as to how our leaders have disregarded our calls, powerful stories, and compelling data to stop the devastating cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and essential disability and early childhood services. We share your concern for what lies ahead for the families we serve. We are concerned for you, for what the cuts will mean to you individually. We are concerned for the capacity of professionals in the field to provide high quality services in this new era. 

We should take some time with friends and family this weekend to grieve what was. We should “breathe some” as the late Jay Turnbull would remind us.

And then, we will rise alongside you and seek new solutions, and new ways to support the incredibly important work you do.

We will say, Okay. We are ready! What now? What’s next?

What we do know: 

• We will not turn from our commitment to children and families.

• We will not lose sight of the “why” of the work or the commitment to high quality.

• We will not step back from our commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice.

• We will put these commitments into practice with every action we take in our work, as we know you will as well.  

For now, we will rely on the words of Janice Fialka. Originally written from a parent's perspective, the poem reflects where we stand this evening, professionals and families together, and where we will stand together always.

“We want only a quiet shoulder upon which to rest our heads. If you cannot give us back our sweet dream, then comfort us through this evening. Hold us. Rock us until morning light creeps in. Then we will rise and begin the work of a new day.” - “Advice to Professionals Who Must Conference Cases" by Janice Fialka, 1997 

DEC appreciates all you have done and will do! We rise together!