Publications

The current budget cuts will leave thousands of working families and single parents without affordable child care and could result in higher tuition costs or early childhood workers taking their talents elsewhere.

Good afternoon Chairman Mendelson and staff and members of the Committee of the Whole. My name is Joanna Blotner, and I serve as the Government Affairs Director of DC Action where, with the more th...

May 13, 2026 Good morning, Chairman Mendelson, members of the Committee, and staff. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today at the Committee of the Whole Hearing on the Proposed Fiscal Year ...

The Honorable Phil Mendelson Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 502 Washington, DC 20005 May 13, 2026 Dear Chairman and Members of the DC Council, We urg...

My testimony will focus on the urgent need for strong and sustained funding for the early childhood education system, specifically the child care subsidy program and the Pay Equity Fund.

Director Pierre has indicated that all providers are being asked to absorb a 6% funding reduction to account for the proposed $1.53 million cut to Permanent Supportive (Extended Transitional) Housi...

April 30, 2026   Good morning Chairperson Frumin and members of the Committee on Human Services. My name is Jorge Membreño (he/him), and I am the Director of Youth Advocacy at DC Action. I am...

April 30, 2026 Good morning, Chair Frumin and members of the Committee, My name is Rachel White, and I serve as Deputy Director of Youth Advocacy at DC Action. We use research, data, and a racial e...

Thank you for the opportunity to address the Committee on Health by providing written testimony regarding the budget of the Department of Health Care Finance. My name is Rachel Metz, and I am the D...

I am here to speak about youth mental health in the District—particularly for young people experiencing homelessness—and to raise concerns about how the proposed reductions will impact access to care, system capacity, and long-term outcomes.

While we appreciate that OST funding has been sustained at FY26 levels, it is important to recognize that these levels do not account for inflation and that out year cuts pose real threats to the sector. After three years without any increase, programs are being asked to do more with less...

Good morning Chairperson Bonds and members of the Committee. My name is Kimberly Perry, and I serve as the Executive Director of DC Action where, with our more than 200 coalition partners, we are m...