NCELC�Public Policy Report – January 18

• Legislative session began January 9^th
• This will be a long session (105 days)
• The primary tasks for legislators during this session is to enact the state’s biennial budgets: Operating, Capital and Transportation.
• WCFC Legislative Advocacy Day is February 1^st. Matt and Nancy will be traveling to Olympia to meet with legislators.
• WCFC is asking for $3.6 million to support the Regional Coalitions.
• Tom Dent has agreed to supporting this request – Thanks Matt
• What is best way to share legislative updates with NCELC members?

Federal Spending Bill - Passed

• Congressional leaders released their final FY2023 omnibus spending package, which includes more than $2.8 billion in funding increases for federal childcare and early learning programs, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Head Start and Early Head Start, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDGB5).
• The increase to CCDBG is almost twice the amount we had hoped for, which shows the prioritization of the issue for Congress. Biden signs $1.7 trillion government funding bill (axios.com) 
• We know that while this is an exciting day for ECE, the amount of investment still falls far short of what is needed, so our fight for robust, sustained federal funding continues. 
• NAEYC/WAEYC will be holding an in person and virtual Public Policy Forum in February 26 – 28th. You must be a member to attend trainings. Virtual attendance is $50.00 (membership $30.00). If you are interested in the training and doing virtual meetings with our federal legislators please let me know – nsprugeon49@gmail.com .
• If you are interested in being part of the team that will meet virtually with our federal legislators contact Nancy Spurgeon at nspurgeon49@gmail.com . You do not have to be a NAEYC member to participate in this part of the Public Policy Forum.

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