---
title: "‘It’s not going to solve the problem’: Democrats unveil ambitious child-care tax credit, but will it be enough?"
description: "‘It’s not going to solve the problem’: Democrats unveil ambitious child-care tax credit, but will it be enough?"
---

[![Child Care Aware of America Logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png?width=690&height=350&name=usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png "Child Care Aware of America Logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/)

- [English ](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/its-not-going-to-solve-the-problem-democrats-unveil-ambitious-child-care-tax-credit-but-will-it-be-enough#) 
    - [Español (Spanish) ](https://www.childcareaware.org/?lang=es)

- [Child Care Career Center](http://careers.childcareaware.org/)
- [Help for Military/DoD Families](https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/)

 Search

![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/menu_img.png)

## Media Center

For media requests, please call 703-341-4161 or email [news@usa.childcareaware.org](mailto:news@usa.childcareaware.org).

# ‘It’s not going to solve the problem’: Democrats unveil ambitious child-care tax credit, but will it be enough?

 February 09, 2021

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

**MarketWatch  
**

As lawmakers debate how to get financially struggling Americans through the pandemic, one idea is more cash for families with children, with payments structured like mini-stimulus checks coming monthly.

In a child-care system [where prices are rising and spots are contracting, ](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/child-care-costs-are-soaring-just-when-parents-need-it-most-11594761449)however, the question is how much of dent these proposals can make for families confronting the expensive juggling act of work and daycare.

“Child care is not affordable for far too many,” said Mario Cardona, chief of policy and practice at Child Care Aware of America, an organization focused on child-care quality, access and affordability. 

Added money for families is “incredibly helpful for families, but in terms of child care, the cost of care is incredibly high,” he added. 

Families paid an average [between $9,200 and $9,600](https://www.childcareaware.org/picking-up-the-pieces/#affordability) for one child’s day care in 2019, according to data from the organization. 

By July, 35% of child-care centers and 21% of family child-care centers, smaller licensed operations in a residential setting, were still closed, according to[ Child Care Aware of America.  ](https://www.childcareaware.org/picking-up-the-pieces/#affordability)

Taking stock of the proposals, Cardona said, “Making changes are incredibly helpful, but’s not going to solve the problem” of access and affordability. Furthermore, he said, there would no requirement the money gets spent on child care. That’s why direct investment in child care businesses and extra funding for child care subsidies are needed, he said.

[Read the full article](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/its-not-going-to-solve-the-problem-biden-unveils-ambitious-child-care-tax-credit-but-critics-say-it-wont-be-enough-11612876236).

 Topics: [Media Mention](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/media-mention)

### Written by [CCAoA](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/author/ccaoa)

Previous Post

<https://info.childcareaware.org/media/the-cost-of-child-care-know-your-options>

[The Cost of Child Care: Know Your Options](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/the-cost-of-child-care-know-your-options)

Next Post

<https://info.childcareaware.org/media/in-some-states-child-care-workers-wont-get-the-covid-vaccine-for-months>

[In Some States, Child Care Workers Won’t Get the Covid Vaccine for Months](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/in-some-states-child-care-workers-wont-get-the-covid-vaccine-for-months)

### Types of Media

- [Media Mention (94)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/media-mention)
- [News (7)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/news)
- [Policy & Advocacy (5)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/policy-advocacy)
- [Press (53)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press)
- [Press Release (42)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press-release)
- [Provider Appreciation Day 2025 (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/provider-appreciation-day-2025)
- [Workforce (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/workforce)

[See all](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/its-not-going-to-solve-the-problem-democrats-unveil-ambitious-child-care-tax-credit-but-will-it-be-enough#)

**

![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png)![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png)

** Military Families

 × Close Panel

**

### Military Families

 × Close Panel

**

 × Close Panel