On November 23, 2021, Children’s HealthWatch submitted testimony to Chairman Lewis, Chairwoman Peisch, and distinguished members of the MA Joint Committee on Education in strong support of H.605/S.362: An Act Providing Affordable and Accessible High Quality Early Education and Care to Promote Child Development and Well-Being and Support the Economy in the Commonwealth.

On behalf of Children’s HealthWatch, a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts committed to improving children’s health in America, we recognize that the proposal would ensure that all families are able to access affordable, high-quality child care that is essential for positive health and developmental outcomes for young children, and the health of families. We emphasize that high-quality child care is associated with better health outcomes and higher educational attainment. However, it is not currently available to all, and barriers to obtaining child care harm the health and financial stability of families. Currently, the cost of care inadequately covers the true costs for providers to offer high-quality care, and H.605/S.362 would establish a much-needed system of affordable, high-quality early education and child care.