Today, the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing discussing the unsustainable cost of childcare and meaningful solutions for working families.

Today, the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing discussing the unsustainable cost of childcare and meaningful solutions for working families. And solutions are badly needed. It is more difficult than ever to start and provide for your family in this country. Childcare costs are high and continue to rise, forcing many parents to rely on dual incomes or multiple jobs. The average annual cost of basic childcare for an infant in the US is about $16,000, and costs have risen by 41% during the pandemic alone. A June 2021 UNICEF report on where wealthy countries stand on childcare rated the United States 40th out of 41, and the only nation in the study without nationwide, statutory, paid maternity leave, paternity leave or parental leave. In 2020, 11.6 million or 16.1% of all children in the US were living in poverty, one of the highest rates of any developed country, and higher than the US rate of adult poverty (10.4%) or elder poverty (9%). As Senate Health Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) said, “Parents are paying as much as a mortgage or car payments — or college tuition — each month for childcare, while childcare workers are making less than they could earn at Target.” Many lawmakers claim to be pro-family, but without meaningful affordability reforms to lower the cost of childcare these claims are just empty words. This is a crisis. Parents are breaking their backs to provide basic care for their children. We need your help – tell your Members of Congress they must prioritize substantive childcare reforms and investments in the next reconciliation package so all Americans can provide for their loved ones. Take Action on Childcare! Yarrow Willman-Cole, Workplace Justice Program Director New Jersey Citizen Action Become an NJCA sustainer! Every action you take is connected to our team's advocacy on the ground. Just $5 supports our fight for social, racial, and economic justice. Facebook Twitter Instagram Are you opted in to text messages from us? Sign up here for texts about urgent action items and live events! Update Your Profile | Unsubscribe New Jersey Citizen Action 625 Broad Street, Suite 270 Newark, NJ 07102