House Republicans Reject Office of Early Childhood
April 19, 2022
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3375
CONCORD – Today, Republican members of the House Children and Family Law Committee led the effort to reject SB 326. SB 326, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) would have directed the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, the commissioner of the Department of Education, the Office of the Child Advocate, and the Council for Thriving Children, to develop a plan to create the Office of Early Childhood. The bill will next go before the full House for a vote.
After the vote, prime sponsor Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) issued the following statement:
“Unifying and integrating New Hampshire’s early childhood system of care is, and has always been, a bipartisan issue. In 2020, Governor Sununu issued an Executive Order to establish the Council for Thriving Children which was tasked with integrating DHHS and DOE with the goal of establishing a joint office on early childhood. SB 326 sought to build on that vision with the understanding that the return on investment in early childhood through a lifetime of higher earnings, educational success, and reduced criminal justice costs is unmatched. I am disappointed that my Republican House colleagues do not see the value in making positive investments in our children's futures.”
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