Continue investing in early learning programs

Now is a time to remember the love parents everywhere have for their kids and their desire for what is best for them. Sadly, many children do not have access to what they deserve - an equal opportunity to succeed.

As a parent and child care professional, I know high quality early learning and child care programs give kids a strong start in life. Without these programs, kids fall behind and many stay behind. In my profession, we enable children to grow and become school ready. The kids we serve are fortunate, but due to a lack of funding, we can't reach many others.

The families in my program also are fortunate to have access to medical care. This is not always the case in many other countries. In fact, 15,000 children around the world die every day from treatable illnesses like pneumonia and malaria.

I'd like to thank Congress for passing the bipartisan budget deal on Feb. 9, which invests in home visiting programs and promises to invest in child care. Unfortunately, kids around the world were left out.

Let's urge our members of Congress, Sen. Joni Ernst and Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Rod Blum, to have a heart and invest in kids with robust funding for early learning, child care and health programs in the fiscal year 2018 and 2019 budgets. This will help parents everywhere meet the needs of the kids they love.

Anamarie Hood

Marion