Rep. Spartz helps introduce bill to improve federal child care programs

Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.-05) and Congressman Adrian Smith (R-Neb.-03) introduced the Increasing Access to Safe Child Care Facilities Act of 2021, which will give states greater flexibility to utilize available funds to improve and increase the availability of safe child care facilities, especially in rural areas.

This bill streamlines the uses of child care stabilization funds, ensuring more children have access to safe child care facilities, more facilities are able to offer services at non-traditional hours, and child care facilities will be equipped with new resources to serve infants and children with disabilities. Parents will also have more options for child care, allowing them to return to work and drive our economy forward.

Spartz

“As a working mom of two young girls, I understand the importance of child care, especially when it comes to engaging more women in the workforce,” Rep. Spartz said. “This is a very important issue for our state given the significant labor shortages that are impacting businesses. Many federal government programs come with extensive strings, which make them very expensive and inefficient. This bill allows more flexibility to the states to improve effectiveness and provide a greater benefit to Hoosiers.”

This bill will be included in the Protecting Worker Paychecks and Family Choice Act, a joint collaboration from House Republicans on both the Education and Labor and Ways and Means Committees.