WOMEN'S CAUCUS RELEASES STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S PROPOSED BUDGET

SACRAMENTO – Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus and Assemblywoman Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara), Vice Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus released the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2020-21 budget proposal:

“As Women’s Caucus leaders, we continue to be pleased with the Governor’s focus on improving the lives of women, children and families here in California.  As the proposed budget was just released earlier today, the Women’s Caucus will be fully reviewing the funding priorities noted by the Governor in his spending plan.  While Governor Newsom’s budget provides for significant investments in preschool, we hope that as we move through the budget process, similarly significant increases are made for subsidized childcare.  As we “invest in our teachers,” let’s also invest our 0-3 children – where currently, only one out of nine eligible children are being served.  It is critical that California serves our earliest learners, which will ultimately help close the achievement gap, allow parents to work and keep our state moving forward.”

“We are also pleased by the Governor’s proposal to create a new Department of Early Childhood Development, which can help to better integrate services and hopefully improve outcomes for children and families in our state. As the Women’s Caucus has championed subsidized childcare for over 20 years, we hope to be a part of the discussion as the implementation of this department moves forward prioritizing early childhood education.  We look forward to working with Governor Newsom and his Administration to achieve these and more wins in the months ahead.”

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