Rebecca Owens

I OPPOSE HB 1515 and hope that Granite State leaders do too. Without resources to fill the gap between operating costs and tuition (considering that the cost to families is already typically unaffordable), we will not have adequate childcare in NH. This impacts our aging demographics in so many ways--ability to recruit and retain young people who may have families and support current and future workforce needs, employer decisions to stay or locate here, affordability, workforce participation, and early learning for America's future leaders. It's all about economics. CHILDCARE FUNDING HAS MANY RETURNS ON INVESTMENT! Check out the latest report from UNH-- https://carsey.unh.edu/publication/operating-thin-margins-cost-providing-new-hampshire-child-care. Thank you from a concerned citizen and local government staffer who gets regular inquiries from major employers and parents about what NH is doing to improve childcare resourcing.