Harder Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Child Care Costs

3 in 5 California parents live in a “child care desert”; On average, families spend 12% of their income on child care

 The child care crisis costs California’s economy an estimated $17 billion every year

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-9), a dad of two young daughters, introduced the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act to address the skyrocketing cost of child care. On average, families are spending 12% of their income on child care – 7% or more is considered to be a “burden” by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The child care crisis is estimated to cost California’s economy $17 billion every year.

Rep. Harder’s bipartisan legislation creates a $100 million grant program to tackle the skyrocketing costs of childcare through two main pillars: 1. training more qualified childcare workers and 2. building and expanding child care centers. Rep. Harder introduced this legislation alongside Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1).

“As a dad to two young kids, my wife and I know firsthand how expensive child care has gotten. Add onto that how difficult it is to find safe, quality child care centers and we parents are left in a very tough spot,” said Rep. Harder. “Parents should be able to pay a reasonable price to drop their little ones off at daycare and know they will be safe. My bipartisan bill is an investment in our families, the future of our kids, and our economy.”

"Childcare costs are skyrocketing, forcing countless families in my community and nationwide into an impossible dilemma: affordable care or quality care," said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1). "Our bipartisan, bicameral legislation addresses this urgent crisis head-on by establishing competitive grants to enhance education, expand facilities, and retain our essential childcare workforce. We must invest in the future of our children.”

Specifically, the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would:

• Address the shortage of affordable child care and qualified child care providers, especially in underserved communities.
• Create $100 million in new grants to support: 
  • Education, training, and retention of child care professionals.
  • Construction, renovation, and expansion of child care facilities in areas like the Central Valley where there is a shortage of child care.
• Require grant recipients to demonstrate how their projects would:
  • Make quality child care more affordable and accessible in their community, especially for parents who work non-traditional hours.
  • Expand career opportunities and flexibility for child care professionals by helping workers obtain portable, stackable credentials.
• Improve retention and compensation for child care workers.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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