Grassroots Child Care Movement Resets National Conversation

For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2019
Contact: Tawana Jacobs, 301.325.8687

Washington, D.C.—Today’s reintroduction of the Child Care for Working Families Act by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Bobby Scott is a huge step forward towards addressing our nation’s child care crisis. This ambitious proposal offers comprehensive solutions and aims to address this economic hardship facing millions of American families, including child care providers and early childhood educators who often struggle to make ends meet.

Community Change Action has been partnering with grassroots organizations from across the country for more than five years to build a vibrant movement that continues to push for the inclusion of these concerns in conversations about our country’s future economic growth.

The following is a statement from Community Change Action’s Senior Organizer Wendoly Marte:

“We are thrilled about the reintroduction of this bill today because it means political leaders are recognizing our movement for child care and early education. Last year ’s historic increase in child care funding at the national level was a downpayment to address our current crisis. With this legislation, as well as Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s proposal, we have bold solutions that get us closer to the kind of transformative system we need. A restructuring of how we as a country address child care at the federal level to provide quality, affordable and culturally competent child care is long overdue, and significant investments are necessary.

We know that low and middle-income moms and dads across the country are struggling to provide their children the strong care and educational start they need. All families–no matter their income, race or where they live–deserve better. Having access to child care is a basic support that helps parents live and work their best knowing their children are safe and well cared for.

Providers are also being left behind. In many parts of the country, they make significantly less than $15 per hour. We need to address this disparity to make sure those who care for our children–especially women of color–don’t have to struggle to provide for their own families.

Community Change Action and our grassroots partners across the country are glad to see House and Senate Democratic leaders making proactive child care legislation a key legislative priority. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Murray and Representative Scott and hope others will follow.”

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Community Change Action is a national social justice organization that builds the power of low-income people, especially people of color, to fight for a society where everyone can thrive.