I want to talk about an issue that's personal to me and so many people I talk with on a daily basis.
I had my first daughter while working in DC at the Department of Education during the Clinton Administration. Faced with complications during pregnancy, and a lack of affordable childcare options, I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom for several years before going back into the workforce.
While I loved being a stay-at-home mom and wouldn't trade it for the world, deciding between creating a loving home for my children, and pursuing financial stability and a career of my dreams is a choice I shouldn't have been forced to make.
Lack of affordable childcare puts so many women and caregivers in an impossible situation, scrambling to cover the sky-high costs of childcare and the basics like rent, food, and health care. It's one of the biggest barriers for women achieving their personal, political, and financial dreams. And it should be one of our top political priorities.
It doesn't have to be this way. We know that quality, early-childhood education sets kids up for success -- and saves taxpayers money in the long run.
We know that accessible childcare levels the playing field for working moms and is good for the economy.
And we know the reason why Congress hasn't tackled this issue: We send too many millionaires and too few working parents to Washington. That needs to change.
We need more women in Congress who understand the real struggles of juggling parenting, work, paying bills, and putting food on the table.
