Click here to send a message to your members of Congress and tell them to take action to end the child care and early childhood education crisis in the United States.

The child care crisis in the United States continues to dramatically impact the lives of children and their families, stretching household budgets and causing parents to miss work when quality care cannot be found.

Even when child care slots can be found, working families face an incredible financial strain to afford child care.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the crisis in child care far worse.

• Just 29% of parents report the child care arrangement they had at the start of the pandemic was open without any changes
• 57% of parents reported that the lack of child care options and increased child care responsibilities in the home have directly impacted their ability to work over the last month.
• Even before the pandemic, child care was unaffordable for many families. The cost of child care exceeds $10,000 a year in many parts of the country. Nearly half (47%) of parents can only afford less than $200 a week for child care and 22% say they can afford no more than $50 a week.

The pandemic has made it incredibly difficult for families to find and afford quality child care, and even as the pandemic recedes, those issues remain a top concern.

We have a historic opportunity for Congress to fund child care and pre-school, and reform the system in a meaningful way.  

The Biden administration’s American Families Plan aims to invest in child care, sending $225 billion over 10 years into federally supported child care programs. Under the President’s plan, the cost of child care would be capped at 7 percent of a family’s earnings for millions of working families. In addition, Biden’s proposal would provide $200 billion for voluntary pre-school programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, and continue expanded tax credits to make child care more affordable for families.

In order for Congress to act, they must hear from us.

Click here to send a message to your members of Congress and tell them to take action to end the child care and early childhood education crisis in the United States.