Child Care

Child care is an essential part of our economic infrastructure and an investment in our future. Yet parents and caregivers face an untenable set of demands. Parents – primarily women - are being forced out of the workforce, families are struggling to pay for child care, and the pandemic has pushed providers to the brink of permanent closure. It's time to provide working families with the solutions they need and adequately compensate child care workers for the complex and demanding jobs they perform.

After speaking with parents and child care providers in Oregon about the need for more affordable child care, I advocated directly to President Biden for child care investments to be included in the American Rescue Plan. I helped secure $39 billion for child care, including $404 million for Oregon. This historic investment has gone a long way to help families, educators, and providers, but more resources are required to help providers keep their doors open. I introduced the Build Housing with Care Act to support the development of child care that is co-located with affordable housing. I continue to lead innovative solutions to the child care crisis as a Co-Chair on the bipartisan Child Care and Pre-K Caucus, and I am leading bipartisan bills like the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act and the After-Hours Child Care Act to deliver proven solutions that will remove barriers for child care providers and improve the quality and affordability of care for our nation’s children.

Caregiving is a critical part of the infrastructure that underpins our economy. Child care is only one part of the caregiving work that has gone unrecognized for too long,  and I will continue to call for policies that recognize the importance of caregiving to individuals, families, and the economy.

My full report on the Child Care Crisis is available here.

More information about my Oregon Child Care Advisory Board is available here.

National expert Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor of ZERO TO THREE and I discussed the challenges facing parents and caregivers of young children during the pandemic and how federal policy can make a difference. Dr. Jones-Taylor is an expert in the field of early childhood education and a passionate and effective advocate for babies, toddlers, and their families. This conversation is a great resource for parents and advocates.

Paid Family Leave is a Public Health Issue

Care is Infrastructure