Rep. Cisneros Urges Congressional Leadership to Include Emergency Child Care Legislation in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) joined 66 House members to call for the inclusion of both the Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act in the next Coronavirus supplemental package. The two bills were passed by the House of Representatives last week and would improve access to affordable, quality child care for working families and support a robust economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis through the creation of a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund and other critical federal investments and tax subsidies. To view the letter sent to congressional leadership, click here.
“Child care is too essential to fail. The upcoming stimulus must invest in child care so that we can stabilize and secure American families and our economy,” wrote the Members. “In order for our economy to recover, and for working families to return to work, the next supplemental package must include at least $50 billion in immediate child care stabilization funds and long-term investments to ensure access to quality, affordable child care for workers. The House passed H.R. 7027, the Child Care is Essential Act and H.R. 7327, the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act in a bipartisan manner. This was a monumental first step. Passing those bills as part of the upcoming stimulus package must be a top priority so that we can begin the hard work of rebuilding and revitalizing our future.”
Rep. Cisneros’ bipartisan bill, the Helping Child Care Providers Respond to the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency Act, was included in the final passage of the Child Care is Essential Act.
The COVID-19 recession has had a devastating impact on the child care industry, our economy, and working parents. Since March 2020, 60 percent of all child care providers across the nation were forced to shutter completely and have lost months of revenue. Now, 70% of all child care centers are incurring substantial, additional costs for staff, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment. This dramatic shortfall in revenue has disrupted the nation’s child care sector to such an extent that the National Association for the Education of Young Children estimates 40% of child care providers could close permanently without federal assistance.