Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed both the Child Care Is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act. These bills would provide critical financial relief for America’s child care providers and families of young children, particularly essential workers. Katie Hamm, vice president of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress, released this statement following the bills’ passage:
America’s child care providers were underfunded and undervalued prior to the spread of COVID-19, but increased expenses and declining enrollment brought on by the pandemic have forced the industry to the edge of ruin.
I commend the U.S. House of Representatives for demonstrating support for a much-needed child care stabilization fund so that parents can return to work and the nation can have a chance of economic recovery. Now, House and Senate leaders need to work together to ensure that child care stabilization funding is included in the next coronavirus relief package so that child care providers and parents can access these much-needed resources.
Roughly 2 in 3 voters say it is essential or very important that Congress include support for child care in upcoming relief legislation. As leaders negotiate a final deal in the coming weeks, they should heed the public’s will.
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For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at cseeberger@americanprogress.org or 202.741.6292.
To find the latest CAP resources on the coronavirus, visit our coronavirus resource page.