To: The New Jersey State House, The New Jersey State Senate, and Governor Phil Murphy
Stand Up For New Jersey Children During Budget Negotiations
Dear Congressman/Senator:
I am writing to you as someone who is raising children in New Jersey. I am writing to ask you to stand up for our children during budget negotiations. Less than 8% of our nation’s budget is spent on children, and for the first time, discretionary spending on children has declined two years in a row! Starving our children of services today will cost so much more in the long run.
I am especially worried about cuts to early childhood services like Head Start and Child Care, Meals on Wheels, and community-based services that help us raise our children to be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our communities are already struggling. Grandparents raising their grandchildren, parents working multiple jobs, families who fell out of the middle class because of unemployment or Hurricane Sandy, are dealing with unbelievable stress. We need these community programs to sustain our families.
You know in your heart that investments in children and families are investments that bring the best return. Please, do all you can to fight cuts to these programs that help those of us who are doing the job of raising the children who will be tomorrow’s leaders, employers, and workers.
I am writing to you as someone who is raising children in New Jersey. I am writing to ask you to stand up for our children during budget negotiations. Less than 8% of our nation’s budget is spent on children, and for the first time, discretionary spending on children has declined two years in a row! Starving our children of services today will cost so much more in the long run.
I am especially worried about cuts to early childhood services like Head Start and Child Care, Meals on Wheels, and community-based services that help us raise our children to be healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our communities are already struggling. Grandparents raising their grandchildren, parents working multiple jobs, families who fell out of the middle class because of unemployment or Hurricane Sandy, are dealing with unbelievable stress. We need these community programs to sustain our families.
You know in your heart that investments in children and families are investments that bring the best return. Please, do all you can to fight cuts to these programs that help those of us who are doing the job of raising the children who will be tomorrow’s leaders, employers, and workers.
Why is this important?
Discretionary spending on children in New Jersey has declined two years in a row! I am worried about cuts to early childhood services like Head Start and Child Care, Meals on Wheels, and community-based services.