Early childhood educators and child care providers have been under immense pressure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and made extraordinary efforts to follow public health guidance, while trying to ensure infants, toddlers, and young children retain access to enriching early learning,” they continue. But across the entire child care industry, providers continue to face tremendous instability and disrupted funding streams. “Child care facilities have played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing care for first responders and essential workers and for families navigating virtual learning. Given the demands and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is urgent that these funds are allocated to child care providers as quickly and transparently as possible.” The members begin, “We are writing to share concerns we have heard from child care providers across our state about delays in the distribution of American Rescue Plan stabilization dollars. Following receipt of the letter Monday, the state has said these funds will be disbursed later this month but did not provide a specific timeline for child care providers in desperate need of this urgent federal relief. Of the $502 million in federal relief funds that were delivered to the state in April, to date, none of the $309 million in funding dedicated to stabilizing Maryland’s child care providers has been distributed. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury urging the state to expedite distribution of American Rescue Plan funds to child care providers. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Senator Ben Cardin, and Representatives Steny H.