Mario Cardona, Child Care Aware® of America’s Chief of Policy and Practice, released the following statement in response to the reintroduction of the Child Care for Working Families Act:
"The Child Care for Working Families Act would make progress toward solving some of the most critical challenges facing the child care system today, and Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) is pleased to support the bill as it is reintroduced. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) are true champions for our children, families, providers and communities across the country.
As CCAoA’s Picking Up the Pieces report shows, the price of child care is out of reach for too many families. And yet, our educators and programs struggle to make ends meet. These issues predated the pandemic and will persist without significant policy changes.
The Child Care for Working Families Act invests in growing an affordable, accessible and equitable child care system that values the work of caregivers and serves communities of all kinds. It establishes subsidy rates that would cover the true cost of providing high-quality care, allowing for higher wages for providers and more inclusive options for children. It centers parent voices in decision-making around how states distribute child care funds. It supports the child care resource and referral agencies that serve as essential hubs for information and resources in communities across the country. Ultimately, the Child Care for Working Families Act will invest in an early learning and care system that is better designed to support working families."
