Rep. Peter Welch Announces Virtual Guest for President Biden's State of the Union Address

Statement

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) announced Jesse Coutrayer as his virtual guest for President Biden's State of the Union address to Congress tonight. Coutrayer is a preschool teacher and Assistant Director at the Robin's Nest Children's Center, a parent directed early care and learning program in Burlington, VT.

"I am excited to welcome Jesse as my virtual guest to the State of the Union," said Welch. "Jesse is an incredible leader in his community and has stepped up in a big way for parents and children during these unprecedented times. Childcare providers and educators, like Jesse, have been through so much over the last two years, working throughout the pandemic to provide our kids with the best possible care and guidance every day. We need to highlight the critical role that educators and caregivers play in our communities and the importance of expanding funding for early childhood education through the Build Back Better Act."

The stress and difficulties of the pandemic have been acutely present with our frontline staff, like educators and childcare providers. The House passed, with Welch's strong support, the Build Back Better Act last November to provide free pre-k to every 3 and 4 year old and to enable Vermont families to afford childcare by capping its cost at 7% of a household's income. The bill would also ensure that the childcare workforce, like Jesse, would receive a long-overdue pay increase.

"My hope for the State of is that President Biden acknowledges the work of early educators and childcare providers during this pandemic," said Coutrayer of Biden's State of the Union address. "We are the workforce behind the workforce. An investment in early childhood education and childcare is the foundational system our country needs to both provide children with a strong start and get parents back to work."

Both Jesse and Rep. Welch will be available to speak with press in the coming days.

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