“America’s moms and families are well aware that our country was lacking quality, affordable child care before the pandemic, and we have watched with grave, growing concern as it’s become clear that it will become even more scarce in the months ahead. This is a national emergency because parents need safe, enriching places for children so they can return to work, and children need safe, enriching early learning opportunities so they can thrive. That’s why we have called on lawmakers to make a significant investment in child care. We thank U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) for developing and championing the Child Care Is Essential Act, which would do just that.

“This bill would provide badly needed relief to child care providers that are open now or temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Grants would be distributed to eligible child care centers, home-based child care providers, and family child care homes, and funds could be used for staff, sanitizing, professional development, mental health supports, modifications resulting from the pandemic, and more. We are especially pleased that, as a condition of receiving these funds, providers would be required to continue to employ and pay their staff, and to provide families with relief from copayments and tuition. Passage of the Child Care Is Essential Act should be a high priority for every member of Congress.”

--Statement of Nina Perez, national director for early learning, MomsRising

“In this crisis, child care providers have been putting their health and safety on the line to care for the children of health care providers, first responders, and others who cannot stay home. Child care is essential, not just for essential workers but for all workers as we work to reopen America. Before the pandemic, the child care system was hanging by a thread due to a history of insufficient resources, and now that thread is unraveling altogether. Without additional support, half of child care centers may not be able to reopen after stay-at-home orders are lifted.

“Introduced in the U.S. House by DeLauro, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, as well as Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, the Child Care Is Essential Act would help stave off the collapse of our child care system, which would cripple economic recovery by making it impossible for parents of young children to return to the workforce. This bill recognizes that recovery is impossible unless we put significant resources into our child care system, so parents can work, businesses and our economy can stabilize, and child care workers get the wages they deserve. We urge every member of Congress to support it.”

--Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO, MomsRising