Rep. Katherine Clark and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are among the lead sponsors on a bicameral piece of legislation that would create a $50 billion child care stabilization fund to help providers stay afloat during and after the coronavirus crisis.
The so-called Child Care is Essential Act would provide grants for child care providers to cover operating expenses and payroll, tuition and copayment relief for families and support for caregivers in underserved communities. A system of oversight would also be established to monitor distribution of the funds.
Clark said COVID-19 has brought the already-stressed child care sector “to its breaking point.”
“With this infusion of resources, we will stabilize our child care providers and ensure that these businesses survive, allowing our kids to return to their classrooms and parents to return to their work,” Clark said in a statement.
"Without emergency relief funding, our child care system is in danger of collapsing," Warren said in a statement.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) are also co-sponsors on the bill.
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Original story here.
Permalink: https://katherineclark.house.gov/2020/5/wbur