Care Can’t Wait Coalition Urges Congress to Immediately Pass $16 Billion in Emergency Child Care Funding
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Care Can’t Wait Coalition applauds today’s introduction of the Child Care Stabilization Act and urges Congress to act immediately to protect the child care of more than three million children and keep 70,000 child care providers open with this $16 billion in emergency child care funding.
The Child Care Stabilization Act, introduced by senators Patty Murray and Bernie Sanders and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, will prevent the looming child care crisis that will disrupt families’ child care and devastate our nation’s economy.
Below is a statement from the Care Can’t Wait Coalition:
“In less than one month, more than three million children could lose their child care and 70,000 child care programs may close if there is not an immediate action from Congress to prevent the child care cliff. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. We must not fail our children and working parents like this.
“Every child across our country deserves to have nurturing, enriching early experiences that support healthy development. We can’t afford to let a future unfold where millions of children are left behind. Families are already struggling with unaffordable child care prices and lack of child care availability. After Sept. 30, this will only become worse — unless Congress acts now.
“Investing in child care is a win for all: It allows parents and other caregivers to go to work knowing their children are in safe, nurturing environments; provides good care jobs; improves economic equity; contributes to economic growth; and supports the development of productive future citizens.
“Our economy will not be able to fully recover and thrive if people who are already squeezed by the lack of investments in child care have even more taken away. It is critical Congress pass the Child Care Stabilization Act immediately.”
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CARE CAN’T WAIT is a coalition of organizations, stakeholders and advocates committed to building a comprehensive, 21st century care infrastructure — that means robust investments to expand access to childcare, paid family and medical leave (PFML), and home- and community-based services (HCBS), and ensure good jobs for the care workforce. The coalition is led by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); AAPD, Be A Hero; Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy; Caring Across Generations; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Child Care for Every Family Network; Community Change; Family Values @ Work; MomsRising; National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women’s Law Center; Paid Leave for All; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); The Arc; and ZERO TO THREE.