Congresswoman Katherine Clark introduces bill to revitalize child care industry

Last week, Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) introduced the ‘Child Care is Infrastructure Act’ to reinvigorate the child care industry which has been devastated by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The goal of this legislation is to make “critical investments in infrastructure, education, and workforce development to revitalize the child care sector.”

As businesses across the country reopen, working parents will need a child care system they can rely on but with slots disappearing nationwide due to the financial burden of care, families are scrambling to find quality care. Congresswoman Clark’s bill addresses these concerns by proposing a $10 billion investment over 5 years in our nation’s child care infrastructure.

This new, comprehensive child care package will include “grants to renovate child care facilities and loans to support the training and financial stability of early educators.” Funding will be directed to assist communities and prevent the child care industry from crumbling beyond repair.

“Child care in America is at its breaking point. The pandemic shook an already fragile system and now, as the nation looks to reopen, parents and providers face an impossible situation in which neither has the resources needed to get back to work safely.”

Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA)

The bill has been supported by Bipartisan Policy Center Action as “a positive contribution to the debate by recognizing the various, ongoing needs of the industry and seeking to improve the supply of high-quality child care throughout the country.” The organization praised Congresswoman Clark for her leadership on this issue that could negatively impact millions of families across the country. 

To keep kids, staff, and families safe, providers need significant additional resources to care for communities and support parents as they return to job sites. Without dedicated federal relief, many child care providers will be forced to close their doors for good just when working families need them most.