Senator Murray Helps 6K+ Child Care Programs in Washington State Keep Doors Open to Serve Families

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), issued the following statement on new data released by the White House showing that the child care stabilization funding she secured in the American Rescue Plan has now helped more than 200,000 child care providers keep their doors open and serve as many as 9.5 million kids across the country. In Washington state, the funding has helped 6,120 child care providers weather the pandemic and provide care for as many as 169,000 kids, allowing parents to return to work and build a better future for their families.

"The investment in child care I fought for wasn't just a big deal--it saved the child care industry from collapse. It showed what is possible when we make historic federal investments in child care. In Washington state, this investment has kept more than 6,000 child care programs afloat and served up to 169,000 kids. It's helped more parents get back to work and helped build an economy that works better for everyone. But we cannot stop here," said Senator Murray.

"Simply put, the American Rescue Plan is evidence that federal support for child care works--so I'm fighting to build on this progress. At every single opportunity, I'm pushing for child care. It's why I included a $1 billion increase for child care in my appropriations bill and why I'm fighting to get that across the finish line. And I'm never going to stop fighting for the big, bold change that families and providers in Washington state deserve. Child care is finally being recognized as a top priority, and I'm going to make sure it stays one--for parents, for kids, and for our economy."

As COVID forced the child care sector to the brink of collapse, Senator Murray fought to provide $24 billion in the American Rescue Plan for child care programs across the country to weather the crisis, keep their employees--the majority of whom are women and workers of color--on payroll, and continue serving families during a tough stretch. The funding saved the child care sector from collapse during the pandemic--helping over 200,000 child care providers keep their doors open and serve as many as 9.5 million children nationwide.

In Washington state, the funding has reached providers in 97% of counties, supporting 6,120 child care programs across the state that serve 169,000 kids. Learn more about how the resources have helped child care providers serve families in Washington state here.

Senator Murray--a former preschool teacher herself--is leading the fight in Congress to build a child care system that works for working families. She has been creative--and persistent--in her fight to ensure working parents can find and afford child care. In addition to securing funding to save the child care sector from collapse during the pandemic, Senator Murray helped deliver a historic increase in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the main source of federal child care support, in 2018, and she has proposed investing an additional $1 billion for the program in next year's funding bill. This year, Senator Murray also championed a child care proposal alongside Senator Tim Kaine as part of her continued fight to deliver child care reform that ensures working parents can find and afford child care, and support child care workers.

Source