The Child Care for Working Families Act, introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) today, would be a boon for our economy and for working families. At a time when many parents are struggling to make ends meet, this bill provides a comprehensive solution that would expand access to affordable, high-quality child care and pre-K for families while improving compensation and training for the child care workforce.
 
Right now, millions of families are in crisis, with low-income families under even greater pressure. Child care costs have risen 25 percent in the past decade, and, in 30 states and the District of Columbia, infant care now costs more than college tuition. In addition, approximately half of American families live in a ‘child care desert’, meaning they can’t access the quality child care they need. This often leaves working parents in an impossible position, having to choose between providing for their families and paying for care. Parents need safe, enriching places for their children to be so they can work; and children need safe, enriching early education so they can thrive.
 
We also need a system that benefits child care workers. Child care is one of the lowest paying industries in the United States, so early learning providers, 94 percent of whom are women, are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their own families. Every child care provider deserves to earn a livable wage. In fact, the quality of child care is dependent on it— low wages undermine the ability to recruit and retain qualified providers.
 
Making early learning opportunities like child care and pre-K a priority is a smart investment for children, families and our economy. Children who have high-quality early learning experiences are more likely to succeed in school and graduate from high school. As adults, they are more likely to gain stable employment, and less likely to be arrested. Moreover, for every $1 invested in high-quality early learning, there is a later return of $13.
 
It’s time for Congress to take action. MomsRising and our more than one million members across the nation urge our representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle to prioritize working families by passing the Child Care for Working Families Act. Then President Trump should sign it into law.

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