Greater support for children and family planning should be one of our nation’s top priorities. Families are the foundation of strong communities, and we must do more to remove the barriers that make it difficult for people to start and raise a family. Too many parents are forced to navigate rising costs, limited access to care, and a lack of support during some of the most important moments in their lives. If we want families to thrive, we must ensure that our policies reflect the value we place on supporting parents and giving every child the best possible start.

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That begins with making childcare more affordable and accessible so that parents can balance work and family responsibilities without facing overwhelming financial strain. We must also strengthen maternal healthcare by increasing support for obstetric services in rural communities, improving Medicaid reimbursement rates, and expanding access to telehealth for patients who may live far from medical providers. By investing in these areas, we can ensure that mothers receive the care they need throughout pregnancy and that families have reliable healthcare support during the earliest stages of a child’s life.

 

At the same time, we must continue to invest in programs that support healthy beginnings for children and provide parents with the tools they need to succeed. That includes backing initiatives like the Healthy Moms and Babies Act and the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Act, which help families access critical resources during and after pregnancy. Expanding early childhood education programs, such as Head Start, will also help ensure that young children enter school ready to learn and grow. These are practical, compassionate solutions that can and should earn bipartisan support, because when we invest in families, we invest in the future of our country.