Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

LOUISVILLE, KY – It’s rare that a piece of legislation has the potential to benefit kids, parents, small businesses, and Kentucky’s workforce and economy – yet Senator Danny Carroll’s Horizons Act would do just that. Today, we are celebrating as the Senate Families and Children Committee ensured that the Horizons Act passed its first step to becoming law.

Senate Bill 203 – referred to as the Horizons Act – includes several provisions that will promote affordability and access of child care for families as well as a stronger early childhood education workforce. Even before the challenges that the pandemic brought to families and the child care sector, working parents were making tough decisions about staying in the workforce while paying exorbitant child care costs or quitting their jobs to stay home with their children. By strengthening the workforce behind all other workforces, our youngest Kentuckians can receive quality care and education in their most formative years and their parents can go to work knowing their child is safe and learning.

Senator Carroll said it best on KET’s Kentucky Tonight last night: “Investments in the right places create dividends. This is an investment in our kids, in our economy, and in our families that will return dividends for our state.” We thank Senator Carroll for being an early childhood education champion and his leadership on SB 203. We are hopeful that the full Kentucky Senate will follow the Senate Families and Children Committee’s lead by supporting passage of SB 203.

Stay up-to-date on Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities and other bills that are good for kids on our Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker.

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About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.