Quality, affordable child care

Families want and need access to quality, affordable child care that offers children a safe environment, nurturing relationships with caring adults, and positive early learning experiences. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a fragile, underfunded child care system that falls short of what babies and families need to thrive and our economy needs to stay strong.  As child care rebuilds following the COVID-19 crisis, robust public funding is imperative for a system of high-quality programs and providers that is accessible to all families. Doing so will not only support our economic recovery, but will ensure our future workforce – today’s babies and toddlers – arrive at school ready to learn and prepared for future success.

The Child Care for Working Families Act 

This bill would ensure families have access to quality child care options that meet their diverse needs and support their children’s healthy development. Building on the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant, it would ensure that no family with low or moderate income pays more than 7 percent of their income for child care, with particular attention to the need to invest in and build a supply of high-quality infant and toddler care. It would also provide increased access to training and professional development, as well as increased compensation for the early educators who do the critical work of caring for our young children.