SR0896 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0896 LRB103 40125 ECR 71793 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Child Care Aware of America and other organizations are recognizing child care providers across the country on May 10, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Child care providers provide a safe, nurturing environment for the enrichment and development of millions of children nationwide, and they are a vital force to the U.S. economy; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated how indispensable child care providers are for the well-being and economic security of young children, families, and communities in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Child care programs, which are mostly small businesses predominantly run and staffed by women, continue to recover from the health and financial hardships stemming from the pandemic while attempting to meet the needs of more families; and

WHEREAS, Child care has been and continues to be a lifeline for families, communities, and the economy; and

WHEREAS, The future depends on the quality of early childhood experiences provided to young children today, and support for high-quality child care represents a worthy commitment to our children's future; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 10, 2024 as Provider Appreciation Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all residents of Illinois to recognize child care providers, the importance of their work, and the immeasurable value they bring to communities.