Care Can’t Wait Statement on FY 2025 Presidential Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 11, 2024)—In response to the release of President Biden’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal, the Care Can’t Wait Coalition issued the following statement:
“The Care Can’t Wait Coalition applauds President Biden’s budget and its clear commitment to care with $150 billion to increase access to aging and disability care and improve jobs for direct care workers; a desperately needed $400 billion to address the child care crisis; $200 billion to establish a universal pre-K program for all 3- and 4-year-olds; and $325 billion for a comprehensive federal paid family and medical leave program. The budget is a clear recognition that we need immediate, bold investment in our nation’s families for our communities to thrive.
“Just last week, President Biden called on us to imagine a future with affordable child care, paid leave, and quality aging and disability care, especially in the home. He affirmed the unprecedented focus of this administration to support care and caregiving. His budget, once again, shows his dedication to building a robust system that supports family caregivers, care workers, and people who need care alike.
“Care is the foundation of our economy, but for far too long, it has been relied upon to hold the whole economy up while receiving minimal investments. This budget proposes to change that. These investments would not only support working families and strengthen jobs and our economy overall, but will also expand our economy, lower costs and improve the lives of millions. Financing and improving our care infrastructure will build a sustainable future where all families can thrive. These investments also have bipartisan support in every state and district. This budget from President Biden affirms that the pillars of care – paid leave, child care, and aging and disability care – must be at the top of the national agenda.”
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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); American Association of People with Disabilities (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; Coalition on Human Needs; Community Change; Family Values @ Work; Institute for Women’s Policy Research; 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.