WHEREAS, the health and safety of all Virginians are vital to the happiness, well-being, and prosperity of families and communities across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s childcare and early childhood professionals work each day to ensure children’s safety, health, and well-being while fostering their educational and social development, at a time when, nationwide, 384,976 children under age six (70.5 percent) and 611,304 children ages six to thirteen (71 percent) have working parents; and

WHEREAS, child and early care professions are critical to the economic infrastructure of our Commonwealth, serving the needs of working families and promoting both the healthy development of children and the economic stability and growth of Virginia's workforce; and

WHEREAS, Child Care and Early Childhood Professionals Day is an opportunity to recognize the efforts of those who are working directly with our children to make a difference and build Virginia’s future;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize May 8, 2026, as CHILD CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.