Our new analysis of all 50 states and Washington, D.C. shows that child care and early learning programs have tremendous impacts on young children, their families, and the economy at large. Federal funding and programs benefit families in every state and Congressional district, and serve as the foundation for America’s entire early care and education (ECE) system. In recent years, state and local policymakers across the country, motivated by the necessity of providing workforce supports for parents, an increased understanding of the importance of early brain development, as well as the economic returns made by investing in early learning, have increased their investments in ECE. However, federal investments continue to provide the crucial foundation upon which these state and local investments are built. (author abstract)