John,
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated childcare providers.
Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, we provided a $24 billion federal investment to help childcare centers stay open so people can get back to work. But it was not a long-term solution. Funding expired at the end of September with no follow-up plan, and now families and childcare workers alike are left to fend for themselves.
According to the Century Foundation, it’s estimated that 3.2 million children may lose access to care, particularly those from underserved communities. Meanwhile, 70,000 childcare facilities are at risk of closing while tens of thousands of childcare providers face impending layoffs amidst an ongoing affordability crisis.
Childcare is not just a family issue, it’s an economic issue. With childcare costs outpacing inflation, costing working families an average of $10,000 per year, many parents are forced to make hard decisions about how much they can work. The lost productivity and earnings are projected to cost states a combined $10.6 billion annually in lost economic activity.
Sign if you agree: We need quality childcare at $10 a day and prioritize competitive wages for childcare workers.
