WASHINGTON DC – Today, the Biden-Harris administration invited State Representative Alex Joers (D-Middleton) alongside 91 other state leaders from across the country to discuss efforts of the administration to support affordable child care and the early education workforce. Stakeholders highlighted the need for more proactive policy at the state and federal levels to ensure that every parent has access to child care.
“At such a crucial juncture for Wisconsin, just after Legislative Republicans voted to gut funding for the Child Care Counts program, these discussions are critical to affirm the commitment of my colleagues and I to move forward on the issue of affordable child care. Just as other states have, we must continue the work to invest in the future of our children and families,” said Representative Joers.
This conference occurs on the backdrop of significant national victories for child care access. The American Rescue Plan provided a $39 billion investment in child care across the country to keep facilities open. President Biden is also advocating for a federally funded program to create universal preschool and cap child care costs at $10 per day for those making under $200,000 per year.
Recently, the administration announced an executive order that caps costs for families served by the Child Care Development Block Grant at no more than 7% of a family’s income along with other measures to reduce costs for those that need it most, including in Wisconsin.
“I hope the stories of my constituents that I brought to leaders in DC help illustrate the impacts of our child care crisis on the communities of the 79th district and across Wisconsin. I look forward to continuing to advocate for this important issue on their behalf.” Joers concluded.
