What I have learned as a new State Representative:
- Many legislators want to do work around child care but they just do not fully understand the issues.
- Legislators do not always know who to talk to get accurate information; they need to hear from impacted individuals or programs.
- Some legislators assume if a particular situation does not exist in their area, it is not a statewide issue.
- Legislators need to remember the needs in each area (especially when comparing rural and urban) can differ but overall there are still some common issues as well.
"Communication is key with any issue. Those impacted by statewide funding need to be brave and tell their stories, so the legislators can better understand the context in which these laws are being implemented. The narrative can change drastically from one year to the next based on what legislators hear from constituents. This year is an example where constituents from both chambers and parties had child care on their radar and we were able to pass 5 bills out of
the House around child care, but there is still work to be done." --Tracy Ehlert, Iowa Representative, House District 70
Be sure to reach out to support child care initiatives in Iowa by talking to your
representative
.
#TogetherWeWill… provide a voice for child care businesses!
