John,

The cost of childcare in America is out of control. It’s gotten to the point where many parents leave good-paying jobs to care for young children instead of attempting to afford childcare.

In Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts, two of the most expensive areas in the country for childcare, the average cost of infant care ranges from $21,000 - $24,000 per year.[1] Just imagine if you have twins! That’s over $40,000 out-of-pocket each year!

Such high costs create major barriers to work for parents. According to the National Women’s Law Center, seven in ten mothers are in the labor force and depend on childcare.[2] And yet, our federal government is currently underfunding childcare for low- and moderate-income families to the tune of $122 billion each year.[3]

The main federal program to help families afford childcare ― the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) ― is severely underfunded. It is providing support to just 1.6 million children ― about 15% of the number who are eligible.[4] Due to lack of funding, many states set the eligibility for assistance very high ― 39 states won’t qualify a family of three for assistance if their income exceeds about $40,000, or 200% percent of the poverty level.[2]

We need Congress to prioritize the needs of everyday Americans over the bloated bank accounts of the rich and powerful. When they do, we can afford critical services for working families ― including childcare.

SIGN THE PETITION: Tell Congress to make childcare affordable for all U.S. families, and pay for it by making the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share in taxes.

But there is a ray of hope. Last month, the U.S. Senate passed a budget bill that raises the spending caps on the Child Care and Development Block Grant. But they have yet to include a specific funding commitment for childcare.[5]

Join Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund and our partners in demanding that Congress make childcare affordable for all U.S. families and pay for it by making the rich and corporations pay their fair share.

Together, we’re demanding a tax system and an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Thank you,

Mark Rickling

Policy and Legislative Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund

[1] “Child care costs in the United States,” Economic Policy Institute

[2] “Child Care For All Families That Need It,” National Women’s Law Center, Feb. 28, 2017

[3] Center for Law and Social Policy, unpublished CLASP analysis of Department of Human Health and Services Office of Child Care Administrative Data and American Community Survey Data.

[4] “A historic boost to child care funding means states can start to realize the potential of the Child Care and Development Block Grant,” Urban Institute, Feb. 15, 2018

[5] “Child Care Funding to States Could Increase After Budget Deal,” CLASP, Aug. 1, 2019