ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICANS May 15, 2020

Governor JB Pritzker 207 State House Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Pritzker,

The purpose of this letter is to appeal to your administration for assistance in increasing the capacity for childcare for hardworking families across the state. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented upheaval in nearly every aspect of life.

As three of the four regions you have identified in your Restore Illinois plan move closer to reaching Phase 3, we have been made aware through multiple points of contact in the childcare industry that as people are being called to go back to work there exists a significant deficit in childcare availability.

We were encouraged to hear in your May 12 daily media briefing that you are organizing a childcare access task force. As we are keenly aware and interested in helping solve this issue for working families, we ask that Republican members of the House of Representatives be included in any task force meetings. Additionally, we request that the task force also include the contributions of professionals working in the private childcare industry.

We are working closely with our leaders in the childcare industry to better understand and identify ways to increase capacity quickly, safely, and reasonably. For childcare centers, the current limit is 10 children. For homes receiving an emergency childcare license for in-home care, the limit is six children. As our communities go back to work, not only just in Illinois but in neighboring states as well, we would ask you to revisit these limits to allow for up to 15 children in childcare centers and 10 children in home emergency daycares.

If increasing these limits is off the table, would you be able to provide us with scientific research that shows the negative effect of larger limits at childcare centers or homes?

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Childcare centers are turning people away. This will lead to job losses and ultimately less daycare capacity as we emerge from the COVID-19 outbreak and reopen our economy. We also fear that for lack of childcare, some people that are eligible to return to work will be unable to and may in fact lose their job if they cannot show up. Right now, about 50% of providers are opened up and operating. But, their capacity is limited so severely that there is not enough childcare available for people to return to work in large numbers. Children of working people need a safe place to go.

We, the undersigned members of the Illinois House of Representatives are also asking the favor of a quick reply from you or a member of your administration. The issue of childcare access and availability is an emerging, imminent threat to the economy in all parts of Illinois.

If we can provide more information, or if you wish to speak directly to one of us, please do not hesitate to contact us at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Bradley Stephens State Representative – 20th District State Representative – 65th District

Margo McDermed State Representative – 37th District State Representative – 70th District

Grant Wehrli State Representative – 41st District

Tony McCombie State Representative – 71st District

Amy Grant State Representative – 42nd District

Ryan Spain State Representative – 73rd District

Deanne M. Mazzochi th State Representative – 47 District Dan Swanson State Representative – 74th District

Tom Weber State Representative – 64th District

David A. Welter State Representative – 75th District

Lindsay Parkhurst Charlie Meier State Representative – 79th District State Representative - 108th District

Tim Butler State Representative – 87th District State Representative – 109th District

Andrew Chesney Chris Miller State Representative – 89th District State Representative – 110th District

Avery Bourne State Representative – 95th District State Representative – 115th District

Dave Severin Mike Murphy State Representative - 117th District State Representative – 99th District

Dan Caulkins State Representative – 101st District State Representative – 118th District

Brad Halbrook State Representative – 102nd District

Mike Marron State Representative – 104th District

Dan Brady State Representative – 105th District

Thomas M. Bennett State Representative – 106th District