In action this past week in Washington, DC, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to cut skyrocketing child care costs. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act lowers costs by investing in the child care workforce and infrastructure to help ensure that access to care meets high demand.

In California, child care is both difficult to find and highly unaffordable, officials noted. Sixty percent of California parents live in a child care desert, and the state ranks among the top five most expensive in the nation for child care costs. This crisis is estimated to cost California’s economy $17 billion every year.

“As a dad to two young daughters, my wife and I know firsthand how expensive child care has gotten. Parents are left in a very tough spot trying to find safe, quality child care centers,” said Rep. Harder. “Parents should be able to pay a reasonable price to drop their little ones off at daycare and know they will be safe. This bill is a must-pass for every working parent – we need to get this done.”

“American families should never have to choose between affordable child care and the quality their children deserve,” added Rep. Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan and bicameral Child Care Workforce Facilities Act directly confronts the untenable challenges facing child care in our nation by establishing competitive grant programs that strengthen caregiver education, expand child care facilities, and bolster the dedicated workforce at the heart of our children’s development. This targeted investment will address shortages nationwide, building a stronger foundation for America’s children, families, and future.”

The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act addresses the shortage of affordable child care and qualified child care providers, especially in underserved communities, by:

Creating $100 million in new grants to support education, training, and retention of child care professionals; construction, renovation, and expansion of child care facilities in areas like the Valley, where there is a shortage of child care.

Requiring grant recipients to demonstrate how their projects would make quality child care more affordable and accessible in their community, especially for parents who work non-traditional hours; expand career opportunities and flexibility for child care professionals by helping workers obtain portable, stackable credentials.

Improving retention and compensation for child care workers.