Millions of families are on the edge of a child care cliff — and MAGA House Republicans want to send them tumbling down.

You see, when the pandemic started, I fought alongside Senator Tina Smith to get emergency funding to child care centers across the country. We won that fight. But much of that funding is set to expire at the end of September. And the GOP-run House isn’t lifting a finger to extend it.

If the Republican wrecking-ball crew gets their way…

• At least 3.2 million children would lose their child care
• 70,000 child care programs could shut their doors
• And nearly a quarter of a million child care workers could lose their jobs

I went on CNN to talk about how we can prevent this child care crisis in the short term — and ensure universal child care in the long run. Watch the video and share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to help get the word out about this fight.

When it comes to child care arrangements, working families are already barely hanging on as it is — struggling to preserve houses of cards that could fall apart with just one light breeze. I’ve been there. When I had two little ones and started my first big teaching job, I thought I was going to have to quit, until my Aunt Bee moved in and rescued me, staying for 16 years.

If millions of parents have to scramble to find new child care, many wouldn’t be able to go to work. Many wouldn’t be able to work a full shift. And that would take a real toll on our economy, with fewer people available to fill jobs.

There’s no reason to let this child care crisis happen. I’m ringing every alarm bell I can find and fighting for Congress to pass emergency funding by September 30.

But make no mistake: even if we win this fight, we’ll have more work to do. Because quality, affordable child care is already far out of reach for far too many Americans. We can’t pour gasoline onto this fire — and we’ve also got to work to put it out.

I have a plan for that: the Child Care for Every Community Act. Half of all families would pay no more than $10 a day for child care, costs would be capped for everyone, and no one would pay more than 7% of their income. Plus: child care workers would get badly needed, well-deserved raises — getting paid on par with local, similarly credentialed public school teachers.

We need to build a future for all of our kids — that means putting early education within reach for every family. We need to come together as a nation and invest in basic infrastructure that allows people to go to work — that means investing in roads, bridges, and child care. And we need to recognize that child care workers do some of the most important work in the country — that means paying them what they deserve.

Do you have a story about how child care costs are impacting you? Please share here. I would appreciate hearing from you.

I’m staying in the fight. And I’m honored to fight by your side.

Thanks for being a part of this, 

Elizabeth