Representative Malinowski Fights for Critical Funding for New Jersey's Child Care Providers

Statement

Today, the House of Representatives passed two bills to ease the shortage of quality, affordable child care amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act will help stabilize the child care sector, and support providers to reopen and operate safely. Representative Malinowski voted in favor of both bills, and co-sponsored the Child Care is Essential Act.

"With schools closed, working families have desperately needed child care options, yet at least half our nation's child care providers have closed at some point during this crisis," said Representative Malinowski. "Today's legislation will provide relief for families and for providers, and support the safe reopening of our economy."

The Child Care is Essential Act establishes a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund, of which New Jersey would receive approximately $900 million. The program would help child care providers meet their payroll expenses and other fixed costs, including rent and utilities, while requiring providers to implement relief from copayments and tuition for families that are struggling to pay their bills.

The Child Care for Economic Recovery Act would offer refundable payroll tax credits to both individuals and employers to support facilities affected by COVID-19 shutdowns. The bill also more than triples annual mandatory funding for child care to states for five years, provides $850 million in emergency funding for Social Services Block Grants, and appropriates $10 billion in emergency funds for infrastructure grants to improve child care centers.

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