Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House and Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader - Davis, Emmer Lead Group of 41 Lawmakers in Urging Additional Federal Relief for Child Care Providers Nationwide

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy:

We write today in support of America's child care industry. As Congress considers additional
relief efforts for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critically important that child
care providers receive timely and targeted assistance during this challenging period to help
stabilize the industry. In the wake of widespread closures, additional federal relief will ensure
that child care providers are able to survive this crisis in order to remain viable and available to
serve children and families that depend on them. Parents, and the American economy, are relying
on the child care industry for a successful economic recovery.

For many Americans, returning to work will only be possible if they have access to affordable
and quality child care. However it is important to note that even prior to COVID-19, many
families often struggled to find care for their children, particularly in rural areas, and the
pandemic has further jeopardized an already precarious industry and threatens to eliminate what
few options are available to parents. In fact, a national survey of child care providers showed that
up to half of the country's child care capacity could permanently disappear because of closures
and lost revenue due to COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act offered child care providers
and workers vital relief, namely through the Paycheck Protection Program and supplemental
funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. While this
funding has been essential for providers during this difficult period, we are concerned that
without additional stabilization measures, providers will not be able to reopen or remain open
through the coming months. According to the National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC) only one-quarter of the child care market received a Paycheck Protection
Loan, yet nearly all providers have experienced operating losses due to the pandemic.

As the pandemic persists, child care providers are being asked to change their business model to
ensure the health and safety of children and staff. Child care providers are struggling to manage
increased costs due to needed health and safety changes including enhanced cleaning, procuring
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and reduced ratios to ensure appropriate social distancing.

As our country moves towards economic recovery, no industry will be able to recover if a large
portion of the workforce is unable to access the child care that they rely on to go to work.
Additional federal investments will help ensure the child care industry's survival now and will in
turn support our economic recovery in the coming months.

As Congress considers additional relief measures, we urge you to build on these efforts and
provide additional, targeted support for child care to help stabilize the industry, ensuring that
providers can continue to operate and that parents can return work as our economy reopens.

Thank you for your consideration on this important matter.

Sincerely,