31 Jul 2024 BPC Action Applauds Introduction of Two Bipartisan Child Care Bills  in Children

BPC Action applauds the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Kaine (D-VA) and Britt (R-AL) in their joint efforts to identify innovative and impactful policy solutions that will increase access to quality child care for America’s working families with the introduction of the Child Care and Affordability Act and Child Care Workforce Act. Choosing where and with whom to leave your child while you are at work is among the most personal choices a parent can make and one that has resulted in parents opting to leave the workforce due to the lack of access to quality care. 

The two bills put forth by the senators today mark a major milestone for the early childhood community and begin to address employer and employee needs, as well as supply-side issues that impact the availability of care. 

The Child Care and Affordability Act modernizes tax incentives for businesses to provide child care benefits to their workforce and enhances the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and Dependent Care Assistance Plans to further support families. Meanwhile, the Child Care Workforce Act establishes a pilot program to address quality and supply-side issues impacting access and choice. 

Combined, these bills bring multiple stakeholders’ voices to the table as part of the solution to the child care crisis including employers, the child care community, and parents. BPC Action endorses both bills and looks forward to seeing Sens. Britt (R-AL) and Kaine’s (D-VA) continued leadership in driving impactful change for working families.