Excerpted from introduction
Our nation’s long-term well-being depends on a child care industry that works for every family. In addition to the proven benefits of high-quality child care to a child’s learning and healthy development, access to care is an essential pillar of America’s labor market and economy. Sixty-seven percent of children under age 6 in the United States have all available parents in the labor force, which means millions of American workers rely on child care just to be able to go to work each day. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed an already-struggling child care industry to the brink of collapse.
Dedicated relief through a Child Care Stabilization Fund will enable states to provide grants to struggling child care providers to help shore up the market and ensure parents have access to the care that will allow them to return to work.