Richmond Leader

Washington, D.C. – On July 11, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration announced new actions to lower the cost of childcare for American families and improve the financial stability of childcare providers: 

“I commend President Biden and Vice President Harris for taking historic action to invest in the care economy, lower costs for hardworking Americans, and ensure providers are fairly compensated. Childcare and early childhood learning are essential services to countless families in my district and across the nation, as they allow working parents and businesses to thrive while supporting young children’s social, emotional, and academic development. 

“In 2010, I made history as the first member of the Virginia House of Delegates to be pregnant and give birth while in office. Now in Congress, I am part of a very small club: only 6.8 percent of the 118th Congress are mothers of minor children; only 3 percent are mothers of color with minor children. I am keenly aware of the various challenges working parents face in our nation, which is why I championed passage of the Child Care Stabilization and Quality Care Act in the General Assembly, and why I continue to fight for affordable childcare and early childhood learning in Congress.

“My home state of Virginia continuously ranks among the top 10 most expensive states for childcare in our nation. That is a reality that creates severe barriers to access for Virginian families, but the cost of childcare nationwide is unaffordable for the majority of families. Childcare costs have risen for the tenth year in a row, and families are spending 27 percent of their household income on average on childcare and other related expenses.

“The childcare crisis also disproportionately impacts women of color. We have seen women drop out of the workforce at record rates as childcare options continue to dwindle. It is an economic issue, an equity issue, and a family issue.  

“The actions by the Biden-Harris administration are important steps in solving the childcare crisis in our nation, empowering our workforce, and preparing our next generation.”

Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan is a proud member of the Bipartisan Congressional Child Care and Pre-K Caucus. She is also a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2817, the Child Care for Working Families Act, H.R. 3639, the After Hours Child Care Act, and H.R. 3207, the Building Housing with Care Act.

Original source can be found here