Media Contact:
Gina Davis, gdavis@zerotothree.org, 202-864-2934
Morgan Brill, mbrill@westendstrategy.com, 845-596-5328
WASHINGTON—ZERO TO THREE, a leading national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, issued the following statement from Melissa Boteach, chief policy officer:
“This law will cause generational harm, undermining the potential of babies and toddlers. Every parent wants their baby to have access to healthcare, good nutrition, and the supports they need to thrive. Instead, this bill strips away the essential resources babies and their caregivers need, sows fear and chaos in immigrant communities, and raises the price of healthcare and groceries for millions of families.
“But even in the most dismal moments, we cannot lose sight of the impact we were able to have and the opportunity to restore and rebuild. By speaking out, families and early childhood workers were able to maintain more funding for food and formula, to keep the doors open at more pediatricians’ offices and OB/GYN wards. And while lessening these harms may not feel like the outcome families need at this moment, those wins are proof that speaking out matters—and we are just getting started.
“While this law is a blow to babies and families across the country, ZERO TO THREE is committed to working with families, communities, and policymakers to bear witness to and mitigate the harm, secure the critical lifelines that babies and families rely on, and build a better future for our youngest children. Each of us must continue to use our voices to speak out for the next generation. Babies are looking to us to give them the strongest start in life. ”
