HomeMy WebLinkAboutH.R. 1826 - City of SLO - Support - CarbajalCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114,
slocity.org
May 19, 2026
The Honorable Salud O. Carbajal
United States House of Representatives
2331 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE: Support for H.R. 1826 — Child Care Workforce Act
Dear Congressman Carbajal:
On behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo, we would like to express our strong support for H.R. 1826,
the “Child Care Workforce Act,” introduced to strengthen the child care workforce through targeted
wage supplementation and strategic investment in quality child care services.
Communities throughout California, including San Luis Obispo, continue to face significant challenges
related to the affordability, accessibility, and availability of child care. Families struggle to secure
reliable care, while child care providers face ongoing staffing shortages driven largely by low wages
and workforce instability. These challenges directly impact working families, local employers,
economic productivity, and the overall well-being of our community.
H.R. 1826 provides a thoughtful and practical framework to address these issues by establishing a
pilot program that supports States, Tribes, and Tribal organizations in implementing wage
supplement initiatives for eligible child care workers. By investing in compensation and retention
strategies, the legislation recognizes the essential role child care professionals play in early childhood
development and in sustaining a functioning workforce across all sectors of the economy.
The City of San Luis Obispo appreciates that H.R. 1826 addresses the real challenges facing our
community, including workforce shortages, limited provider capacity, and the high cost of living that
makes it difficult to recruit and retain qualified child care workers. The bill’s focus on supporting
infant and toddler care, care for children with disabilities, and non-traditional-hour care is especially
important for working families on the Central Coast. Improving compensation for child care workers
is critical to building a resilient and equitable child care infrastructure. Investments in this workforce
not only support educators and providers, but also strengthen economic opportunities for families
and employers alike.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo respectfully urges Congress to support and advance
H.R. 1826, the Child Care Workforce Act. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue and
for your continued advocacy on behalf of children, families, and working communities across
California.
Sincerely,
Erica A. Stewart
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc: Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council
Senator John Laird
Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Dave Mullinax, League of California Cities
League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org