Legislators reintroduced the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act, two bills that address America’s childcare crisis with robust investment in early learning facilities and educators.
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, who represents Virginia‘s District 4, joined Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, Jimmy Gomez of California, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado and Jill Tokuda of Hawaii in reintroducing the bills yesterday.
“As one of the 6 percent of members of Congress who is a mother to young children, I know firsthand the challenges working families face when seeking quality, affordable childcare,” McClellan said. “House Democrats are fighting every day to address the childcare crisis and give hardworking American families some relief from exorbitant costs. I’m grateful for Democratic Whip Katherine Clark’s leadership on this pressing issue, as we introduce the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act. These bills will bolster federal investment in our nation’s childcare industry and incentivize care workers and early childhood educators to continue their invaluable work.”
According to Clark, Democrats have a focus on the outrageous cost of childcare in the United States.
“This pair of bills will build out childcare facilities across the country while recruiting talented Americans to pursue careers in early education. This investment would mark a critical step forward in House Democrats’ fight to lower costs for parents, create opportunities for our children, and build an economy that works for working families. While Republicans ignore the childcare crisis, we are ready with solutions,” Clark said.
Bonamici said that childcare is infrastructure and an important investment in children, families and the economy.
“The ongoing hurdles childcare providers and families face are limiting economic growth, threatening employers and small businesses, and holding back working families. I’m grateful to partner with Whip Clark to introduce legislation that will provide funding to improve and build facilities to help meet the demand for affordable, accessible childcare,” Bonamici said.
Gomez is a father and founder of the Dads Caucus.
“Many families today are living in childcare deserts, where there aren’t enough quality, affordable daycares nearby—my colleagues and I are fighting to change that. I’m proud to join Whip Clark on these two bills that will make becoming an early childhood educator more attainable for students, expand our childcare provider workforce and fund building new daycares as key infrastructure investments. Working families should rest assured that their children are being looked after in quality facilities with qualified educators who are supported,” Gomez said.
Pettersen has a 4-year-old son and a child on the way. She said she understands the struggles of families in her district and in rural communities.
“That’s why I’m proud to help reintroduce these two pieces of legislation to bolster our childcare workforce, help lower costs for parents, and ensure every family can access the care they need for their children to thrive. I’m incredibly grateful for the leadership of Whip Clark and my colleagues who joined today,” Pettersen said.
The Child Care Infrastructure Act would:
- Direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a national needs assessment of early childcare and learning facilities to understand the impact of the childcare crisis and evaluate the ongoing infrastructure needs of childcare facilities across the U.S.
- Establish a grant program to award grants to states for the purpose of constructing new or renovating existing child care facilities.
- Set aside a minimum of 10 percent and a maximum of 15 percent of the authorized funds to award grants of up to $10 million to intermediary organizations, including development financial institutions or other organizations that have demonstrated experience in developing or financing early care and learning facilities.
- Authorize $10 billion over five years to invest in our nation’s childcare infrastructure.
“The rising cost of childcare has made it difficult for millions of parents to balance earning a living with caring for their families. Nonetheless, my Republican colleagues refused to join us in supporting working parents and allowed vital federal childcare stabilization funding to expire last year. Our working families deserve better. Without additional action by Congress, the unaffordability and unavailability of child care in the U.S. will only worsen,” Tokuda said. “As a mother of two boys that has to make tough choices, I’m proud to join our Democratic Whip, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, in introducing the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act. Together, these bills will provide for greater investment in the programs and the people we entrust to take care of our kids so they can continue serving children and families across the country.”
The Child Care Workforce Development Act would:
- Authorize HHS to administer a student loan repayment program of up to $6,000 annually for five years for early childhood educators working for providers eligible to receive Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding.
- Establish a program to provide up to $4,000 annually to eligible individuals pursuing an associate’s degree or a certificate in early childhood education.
McClellan has championed childcare during her time in Congress. Last year, she and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced H.R. 5581, the bipartisan Child Care Assistance for Maternal Health Act, to increase short-term childcare access for mothers and their families during the pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.
McClellan and Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia convened a roundtable discussion with parents and childcare providers to discuss the childcare crisis in America following a tour of Kidz with Goals Unlimited, a childcare and early education center in Hopewell. Earlier in 2024, McClellan and Clark toured Sprout School at Second Presbyterian in Richmond and convened a roundtable discussion at YWCA Richmond with childcare providers, advocates, and community leaders to discuss federal funding for childcare resources.
McClellan is a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, the Mamas Caucus and the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus.
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Rebecca Barnabi
