Dem Women’s Caucus Requests Strategy Meeting with White House Officials on Child Care Funding Emergency

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) leaders Chair Lois Frankel, Vice Chairs Nikema Williams and Teresa Leger Fernandez, Policy Co-Chairs Ayanna Pressley and Kathy Manning, and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Sara Jacobs issued the following statement asking White House officials to strategize with them about the looming child care crisis with emergency child care funding set to expire imminently.

With the leadership of President Biden, Congress secured historic funding in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to save the child care industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. That relief funding will end on September 30. Alarmingly, a recent report from the Century Foundation estimates that without action, more than 70,000 child care programs will likely close, leaving over 3.2 million children without child care.  To make matters worse, Republicans in the House are pushing cuts to child care funding.

“With critical child care resources running out on September 30, this country is fast approaching a child care crisis that will be devastating for working parents, child care providers, our children, and our entire economy. As witnesses made clear at a recent shadow hearing hosted by the Democratic Women’s Caucus, the loss of this funding will result in millions of lost child care slots, a wave of child care closures, and an ever steeper struggle for working parents. That’s why our members led a letter just weeks ago urging the Biden Administration to support efforts to provide much-needed additional funding.

“To prevent this looming crisis, Congress and the White House must work hand in hand. Towards that end, we are requesting a meeting with President Biden to discuss next steps to avoid the child care funding cliff. We cannot leave child care behind—or we risk a devastating crisis that will undoubtedly hit women hardest.”

Last month, DWC endorsed a letter led by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Sara Jacobs calling on President Joe Biden to support efforts, including through a supplemental funding request, to provide needed funding to prevent a national wave of child care closures.

###