Maloney Helps Pass Bills to Support Hudson Valley Families and Child Care Providers During Pandemic

Press Release

This week, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) helped pass the Child Care is Essential Act, which would create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund and invest in child care so providers across the Hudson Valley can safely reopen and operate amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Without federal investment, New York could lose over 176,000 licensed child care slots, which is approximately 50 percent of the child care supply. Consequently, families across the Hudson Valley will be unable to return to work.

"We can't send working parents and grandparents across the Hudson Valley back to work without safe child care for their kids. This week, the House took action by investing billions of dollars into our child care providers so they can reopen and operate in a safe way while we rebuild our economy. These bills are two more smart steps in our road to recovery," said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

The Child Care is Essential Act includes:

Stabilization grants for personnel costs, sanitation and cleaning, training and other goods and services needed to maintain or resume operation of the child care program.

Support for child care workers. This bill requires employers to keep child care workers on payroll at the same compensation level as pre-COVID as a condition of receiving stabilization grant funds.

Support for working families by requiring providers to relieve families of copayments or tuition.

Promotion of health and safety through compliance with public health guidance. Under this legislation, open providers would be required to meet health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities.

Additionally, the House passed the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, which will provide ongoing federal investments and tax subsidies for working families, helping to bring quality child care within their reach to support ongoing employment. It also provides tax credits to support child care providers affected by COVID-19 shutdowns.

The bill will enhance the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), dependent care flexible spending accounts, and creates a new tax credit to help employees access quality, affordable child care. The bill also provides a new refundable payroll tax credit for child care providers, and incentivizes employers to keep child care workers on the payroll. Dedicated funds for states to provide child care for essential workers and guaranteed federal funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) of up to $10 billion per year through 2024 are also key features of the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act.

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