Increasing Access to Child Care

There is a growing childcare crisis in America. It is too expensive for many working families to send their children to daycare, and daycare centers around the country are closing their doors, creating an increasing supply shock. The government must step in both to ensure that every family in America has access to high-quality childcare services and that every community has adequate childcare facilities.

According to some research, access to childcare returns $8 in benefits for every $1 invested. It is universally accepted today that ensuring a child’s preparedness to enter kindergarten is a critical step for their future success in school. Just as important, affordable childcare is essential in enabling more parents, particularly mothers, to participate in the workforce — or to attend school to help them qualify for a better job. Yet, such high-quality childcare in Illinois today can cost $12,000 or more annually — about the same amount as a year of tuition for a state university.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi is a proud co-sponsor of the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would provide a stable funding source for eligible childcare centers, support sustained and increased wages for early childhood educators, and expand access to childcare services for communities facing a particular shortage of childcare options. Additionally, Raja co-sponsored the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act which would, among other things, ensure childcare workers are paid a living wage and have protections such as overtime, access to paid sick leave, and health care coverage.

During the pandemic, Congress funded the Child Tax Credit which lifted millions of children out of poverty and helped parents afford care for their children who were not old enough for school. Raja supports reinstating the Child Tax Credit and extending other needs-assessed tax credits to families with young children who cannot otherwise afford childcare.

Our children are the future of our great nation and by providing access to quality childcare, we can continue to increase the prosperity of all Americans.