U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced Thursday he is an original cosponsor of U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) bipartisan legislation that will enable child care providers to continue offering critical and affordable services for working parents during coronavirus.
Young
“During the height of coronavirus, 60 percent of child care centers were forced to shut their doors. As Hoosiers begin to return to work, we must make sure our child care providers are supported in order to reopen safely and meet demand,” said Young. “Our Back to Work Child Care Grants Act will support the economic recovery of child care facilities so parents can return to work knowing their children are in safe hands.”
The Back to Work Child Care Grants Act of 2020 supports economic recovery and helps parents go back to work by providing critical resources to help child care providers reopen and stay open, including:
- Provides nine-month financial assistance for providers to open, welcome children safely, and ensure a robust child care sector is available for families.
- Allows states to design state-specific plans to support child care centers, operators, providers in state.
- Sends funds to child care providers more quickly without administrative red tape.
- Safe environments for children: Requires all providers receiving assistance to follow all state and local health and safety guidelines; and requires states to ensure a diverse field of child care setting options for parents, including center-based, family child care, and faith-based options.
“The COVID-19 crisis has created a devastating impact on Indiana’s child care industry,” said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director, Bipartisan Policy Center Action. “Providers desperately need financial assistance if they are to remain open, care for children safely, and provide crucial services to working parents in the months ahead. We applaud Senator Young for his efforts to support child care providers and working parents by joining Senator Ernst’s Back to Work Child Care Grants Act, which would create a much-needed stabilization fund for the child care market and promote our nation’s economic recovery.”
“Without question, the survival of the child care industry will be central to the success of America’s overall economic recovery from this crisis,” said First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling. “The pandemic has exacerbated an already difficult situation for families and providers, and surfaced the truly essential role that child care plays in this country. Dedicated efforts by Congress are necessary to ensuring child care providers of all sizes are not forced to close their doors, but instead have the means necessary to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for their staff and the children in their care. We are grateful to Senators Ernst and Young for their leadership in introducing this legislation and in recognizing the needs of families and providers. We are hopeful that Congressional leaders will include a child care stabilization fund in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package, as any meaningful efforts to aid America’s economic recovery will be immediately undermined if the child care industry is allowed to collapse.”