Children and Working Families

I’m a mom who knows what it’s like to work and raise three kids. I’m a daughter who knows what it’s like to take care of aging parents at home. I also know that I’ve been privileged enough to have the resources I need to care for the people I love. For millions of families, that security is still out of reach.

I first got into politics by running for my local school board. I wanted to help build a community, a Commonwealth, and a country where working families are empowered to build the lives they deserve – and I’ve been proud to continue that fight in the halls of Congress.

In 2015, I worked with my colleagues to replace “No Child Left Behind” with the Every Student Succeeds Act – raising school standards, empowering local educators, and investing in early education for our youngest learners. 

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I worked with my Democratic colleagues to secure billions in child care and Head Start funding. At the height of the pandemic, I helped deliver a lifeline to 200,000 child care providers across the country – keeping their doors open to nearly 10 million kids. 

I have also fought to level the playing field for women, championing equal pay for equal work and helping to enact unprecedented workplace protections for pregnant and nursing employees.

Now, as Democratic Whip, I’m fighting for the continued progress we need to build an economy that puts families first.  

That means securing universal preschool for our kids, raising pay for our child care workers, and guaranteeing paid family leave for every American.