Finkenauer Introduces Legislation to Improve Child Care Options and Affordability for Iowans
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) introduced the Child Care is Essential Act on Wednesday to improve childcare options for Iowans and ensure providers have the resources to weather the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
"We faced a crisis of childcare availability and affordability before the coronavirus pandemic — here in northeast Iowa and in every corner of the country. Now, our providers are being pushed to the brink, and without meaningful action will be forced to close just as Iowans return to work," Congresswoman Finkenauer said. "Accessible childcare is absolutely essential to our long-term economic recovery. The Child Care is Essential Act will provide resources to support that recovery and make needed investments to address the wider crisis of availability and affordability."
The legislation makes $50 billion available for states to provide grants to childcare providers. Funding from the Child Care is Essential Act would be distributed equitably across center-based providers, family childcare providers, group home providers, and other non-center-based childcare providers with priority given to those in childcare. Priority would go to childcare providers in low-supply areas like rural communities, offer care outside of standard 9-5 business areas, serve low-income and other especially vulnerable children (those with disabilities or experiencing homelessness), have a high-quality rating, and serve dual-language learners.
Funds could be used for operating costs, including:
- employee salaries and benefits
- rent, mortgage and utilities
- premium or hazard pay
- PPE, cleaning supplies and equipment
- training and professional development
- other adaptions needed to continue to provide child care services
In order to receive the grant funding, providers would be expected to abide by public health guidelines, prioritize care for the children of essential works if stay-at-home orders are in place, and offer financial relief to families through discounted payments or tuition, especially those struggling to make ends meet.
"When it comes to childcare, the need is as real in the rural Midwest as it is in big, coastal cities and metropolitan suburbs," Finkenauer said. “This bill represents an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats, progressives, moderates and conservatives alike to come together and provide real help to children and families."
"Our childcare system was challenged even before the coronavirus pandemic, and without additional help now, many providers may be forced out of business. The grants provided by the Child Care is Essential Act will provide desperately needed funding for a critical community resource, ensuring providers remain open and families get the care they need,” said Judy Wolf, President of the Marita Theisen Childcare Center in Dubuque. “I appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer being a long-term ally for accessible and affordable childcare in every community, and I appreciate her work on this important bill."
House leads of the Child Care is Essential Act include: Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Nita Lowey (NY-17), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and Haley Stevens (MI-11). Senate leads include: Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Tina Smith (D-MN).
The Child Care is Essential Act is supported by; Center for American Progress, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), MomsRising, National, Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Women’s Law Center, and ZERO to Three.
Congresswoman Finkenauer’s introduction of the Child Care is Essential Act is her latest effort to expand access to affordable and quality childcare. Earlier this year, Finkenauer led a hearing of the Small Business Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship (RATE) subcommittee hearing on the importance of improving access to affordable and quality childcare. Video of the hearing is available here. She also joined several members of the Small Business Committee in introducing the bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act.
In 2019, Finkenauer helped introduce H.R 3986, the Child Care Protection Improvement Act of 2019, to improve the completion of background checks for childcare providers who receive funding through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and supported the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act, which addresses the shortage of affordable, quality child care through competitive grants to states.