Children’s advocates decry Rep. Case’s latest delay on Build Back Better

HONOLULU, November 2, 2021 — Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks!, which advocates for all children in Hawaiʻi to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, released the following statement attributable to HCAN Speaks! Executive Director Deborah Zysman:

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HCAN Speaks! joins 300+ organizations in strong support of the child care and pre-kindergarten provisions in Build Back Better

HCAN Speaks! is among more than 300 organizations nationally that signed onto a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “in strong support of the child care and pre-kindergarten provisions in the Build Back Better plan.”

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New Build Back Better plan would be life-changing for Hawaiʻi families, but the fight isn’t over for paid family leave

HONOLULU, October 28, 2021 — Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks!, which advocates for all children in Hawaiʻi to have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, released the following statement attributable to HCAN Speaks! Executive Director Deborah Zysman:

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Hawaiʻi pediatricians write op-ed in support of Build Back Better

“As pediatricians, when we treat children, we’re not just healing their injuries and illnesses. Far too often, we’re also trying to treat symptoms of a system that’s failing Hawaii’s families,” local pediatricians Dr. Michael Ching and Dr. Brooke Hallett wrote in the Star-Advertiser on October 24, 2021.

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HCAN Speaks! among 500+ orgs urging support for child care, paid leave, and CTC

HCAN Speaks! is among 500 organizations nationally urging Congressional leaders to “maintain crucial provisions of the Build Back Better Act including paid family and medical leave, Child Tax Credit, and child care & preschool.”

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HCAN Speaks! among 800 groups highlighting anti-child hunger provisions of Build Back Better

HCAN Speaks! signed a letter with the Food Research & Action Center and about 800 other organizations urging the passage of the Build Back Better Act.

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Civil Beat: House refers SB56 to four committees

"Senate Bill 56 was passed by the state Senate on Tuesday. But supporters were dismayed to see House Speaker Scott Saiki give the measure a quadruple referral this week — meaning he assigned the bill to four House committees that must each hold hearings and vote in favor of the measure before it can pass."

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PBN: HCAN prioritizes bills protecting keiki services, paid sick days

"The community services provided by nonprofits across Hawaii are needed now more than ever, as so many of our neighbors are facing problems such as unemployment, food insecurity, and mental health crises."

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HPR: Child Advocacy Groups Hope to Fill Gaps in Services Amid Steep Budget Cuts

A top concern for advocates is how COVID-19 has highlighted inequalities for Hawaii’s children.

“With COVID, we really saw the impact of our lack of investment in some of our social service safety nets, in our education safety net, and in our programs for working families,” Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks! Executive Director Deborah Zysman said.

HCAN Speaks' top two priorities in 2021 are avoiding cuts to education and health and human services funding and creating support for working families.

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KITV: Policy Agenda Launch

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