Biden’s transformative plan will invest in child care, pre-K, paid leave — Clark’s major priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Assistant Speaker Clark released the below statement in response to President Biden’s American Families Plan ahead of the Joint Address to Congress:

“This pandemic has made one thing very clear - our nation’s infrastructure fails to support American families. Without affordable, quality child care and paid leave, parents, and especially moms, can’t succeed in the job market. This holds back our economy and furthers inequity in America. President Biden’s American Families Plan will make our economy work for working families.

“My virtual guest for the President’s Joint Address tonight embodies what’s possible when we invest in the American people: Jessica De Jesus Acevedo is the owner of Little Star of Ours, a family child care program in Cambridge, MA, where she serves children ages six months to five years. During the pandemic, Jessica’s business was forced to close for eight months. Because of the loss of revenue, Jessica struggled but was ultimately able to reopen and recover with federal assistance, including a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and personal stimulus checks. She is applying for child care funding through the American Rescue Plan to hire more staff, and is eager to see the American Families Plan enacted into law so all children in her community have access to a quality early education. “By investing in care workers, working families, and children, we can ensure that all women and children, like Jessica and her students, can thrive. We can — and must — rebuild a more equitable and inclusive economy. It’s no longer a question, but a fact: care is essential economic infrastructure.”

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