New Select Committee on Child Care Costs

The California Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs, co-chaired by Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove), grew out of a recognition that child care access is essential for family stability and economic stability, but that child care access and affordability is still a major problem in the state of California.

On August 20, 2025, the committee held its first public hearing, bringing voices from across the state to testify to the importance of building child care supply, bolstering the ECE workforce, and designing programs and services inclusive of all families. The Network's Public Policy Associate, Lily Stewart attended and provided public comment, speaking to the role of R&Rs in supporting child care providers looking to begin or expand their business and in connecting families to local child care options that best fit their individual needs.

Members of the Select Committee on Child Care Costs

Select Committee on Child Care Costs Members	District Number	Counties in Legislator District	R&Rs in Legislative District	R&R Meet & Greet Page
Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry (Co-Chair)	04	​​Colusa Lake Napa Sonoma Yolo	Colusa County of Ed Lake/North Coast Opportunities Community Resources for Children in Napa Children's Home Society of CA in Yolo	Cecilia Aguiar -Curry
Stephanie Nguyen (Co-Chair)	10	Sacramento	Child Action	Stephanie Nguyen
Patrick J. Ahrens	26	Santa Clara	Santa Clara County Office of Education	Patrick Ahrens
Jesse Gabriel	46	Los Angeles Ventura	Child Care Resource Center - Los Angeles	Jesse Gabriel
Heather Hadwick	01	Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou	Catalyst, Lassen Child and Family Resources Modoc/Training, Employment and Community Help, Inc. Sierra Nevada Children’s Services Shasta County Childhood Services Siskiyou Child Care Council	Heather Hadwick
Liz Ortega	20	Alameda	Alameda Community Child Care Council (4C's)	Liz Ortega
Gail Pellerin	28	Santa Cruz Santa Clara	Santa Cruz Child Development Resource Center	Gail Pellerin
Sharon Quirk-Silva	67	Los Angeles Orange	Children's Home Society of California	Sharon Quirk Silva
Pilar Schiavo	40	Los Angeles - Santa Clarita	Child Care Resource Center - Los Angeles	Pilar Schiavo
Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins	79	San Diego	San Diego YMCA Childcare Resource Service	La Shae Sharp Collins
José Luis Solache Jr.	62	Los Angeles - Montebello	Mexican American Opportunity Foundation in Monterey	José Luis Solache Jr
Catherine Stefani	19	San Francisco San Mateo	Children's Council of San Francisco Wu Yee Children's Services	Catherine Stefani
Christopher M. Ward	78	San Diego	San Diego YMCA Childcare Resource Service	Christpher M Ward