Washington D.C. - The JEC discussed how investments in early childhood programs can improve child outcomes, ease the burden on public resources, enable higher labor force participation, and lead to higher future productivity and economic growth. The committee heard testimony from expert witnesses including a Nobel Prize winning economist, the Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, and a child care expert from Pennsylvania concerning the inadequacy of current investments in child care and early education and how the federal government can help states develop and expand high quality early childhood development and education programs.