Opposition to Funding Reallocation in Senate Bill SF445

governor I am writing to express my strong opposition to the reallocation of funds from essential childcare programs to new initiatives under your administration as proposed in Iowa Senate Bill SF445. Weakening successful, established programs in favor of untested alternatives is not in the best interest of Iowa’s families. One such program at risk is the Child Care Provider Training offered by Lutheran Services in Iowa, which has empowered over 200 women to provide childcare services, benefiting more than 400 families. (ffyf.org) Redirecting resources away from programs like this will leave Iowa’s working families without necessary support and create additional hardships for both parents and childcare providers. Weakening these successful programs is a false choice. Research consistently shows that investing in early childhood education leads to higher graduation rates, reduced crime, and long-term economic benefits—ultimately saving taxpayers money. (en.wikipedia.org) Cutting essential childcare programs will only create more financial strain on the state in the future. I urge you to reconsider this harmful reallocation and instead invest in strengthening existing programs that are already proving successful. Iowa’s children and families deserve access to stable, high-quality childcare services. Please ensure that proven programs remain fully funded and continue to serve the families who depend on them.