Care Can’t Wait Coalition Applauds President’s Budget and Bold Investments in Care Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2023) – In response to the release of President Biden’s 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 support access to aging and disability care and good pay for direct care workers, the largest investment ever proposed by a President to support access to child care and early learning with $400 billion, and the strongest budget proposal for a comprehensive federal paid family and medical leave program in history, with $325 billion. The budget is a clear recognition of the struggles that families all over the country are having balancing care responsibilities.
The Biden Administration’s re-commitment to building a robust federal paid family and medical leave program, a strong child care system, transformative investments in aging and disability care, and a standard of fair pay for all care workers is powerful. We applaud the proposed expansion in funding for child care, expected to increase high-quality child care options and lower costs for the parents of 16 million children in this country. We applaud the large investment in aging and disability care, which will allow older adults, disabled people, and their families the choice of receiving care in their homes and communities. And we applaud President Biden for his continued and historic commitment to paid family, medical, and sick leave, and the creation of a federal program that would protect every working family and small business in the country.
Care is the foundation of our economy, but for far too long, 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. By closing tax loopholes that only benefit the extremely wealthy and big corporations, we can support these critical investments in care. With this budget, President Biden has shown that it is possible to reduce the national deficit without sacrificing the supports our families and communities need.
These investments also have bi-partisan support in every state and district. Last week, care workers, caregivers, disabled people and older adults reminded Congress that now is the time to advance bold federal investments in our care infrastructure to build an equitable economic recovery that works for everyone, delivering nearly 100,000 petitions from Americans demanding attention on the continuing care crisis. We have made clear – we have unfinished business. 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); AAPD, Be A Hero; Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy; Caring Across Generations; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Closing the Women’s Wealth Gap; Community Change & Economic Security Project 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); Supermajority; The Arc; and ZERO TO THREE.