CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE CALLS FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS CHILDCARE CRISIS

(Rochester, NY)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle joined local families and advocates to announce action he is taking to address the childcare crisis and expand access to quality, affordable care. Without immediate action, over 250,000 children could lose their childcare programs in New York when emergency funding expires on September 30.

“The struggle to find safe, accessible, and affordable childcare is universal—and it’s only getting worse,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “If we don’t act now, we face an even more devastating crisis in just a few weeks—which is why today I’m presenting real, impactful solutions that would strengthen our economy, create good paying childcare jobs, and most importantly, relieve this emotional and financial burden for working families. I look forward to working with my colleagues to provide the support parents deserve and stop this childcare crisis before it’s too late.”

"Caring for our nation's children is a collective responsibility that we all -- parents, community and government -- play a role in," said Pete Nabozny, Policy Director at The Children's Agenda. "Our nation doesn't work without quality, affordable child care. Even more importantly, it helps our children thrive. The federal investments New York State received during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to expand eligibility for child care assistance to hundreds of thousands of additional children in New York State. More than half of young children in Monroe County are now eligible for assistance thanks to that investment. But our work is not done until every family in Monroe County and New York state can benefit from high quality, affordable child care. That is why The Children's Agenda supports Congressman Morelle's Child Care for Working Families Act and Child Care for Every Community Act. We look forward to their passage and the difference they will make for our children." 

“Ibero has provided early childcare services to our community for over 30 years, and we continue to advocate for supporting our families and expanding access to quality, affordable care,” said Lucia Colindres-Vasquez, Chief Program Officer at Ibero-American Action League. “Childcare programs across New York state like ours have faced unprecedented losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many programs closed their doors and diminished childcare capacity statewide and locally. This has caused a ripple effect impacting children, families, childcare centers, and the workforce. We need to ensure that families have access to affordable good, quality childcare services.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congressman Morelle helped deliver $24 billion in federal support through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan to extend a lifeline to the childcare industry and help providers stay open. However, without immediate intervention by Congress, this emergency supplemental federal funding will run out September 30^th.

Through his role on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Morelle has requested a $12.4 billion investment in childcare development block grants and is cosponsoring legislation to provide universal access to childcare and prevent the collapse of the childcare industry:

H. R. 2976, the Child Care for Working Families Act:

This legislation would significantly improve compensation and training for the childcare workforce to increase the number of qualified providers and get children off waitlists and into high-quality care. It also guarantees childcare assistance to low and middle-class families by ensuring that no family under one hundred fifty percent of state median income pays more than seven percent of their income on childcare and families under seventy-five percent of the state median income would pay nothing.

H.R. 953, the Child Care for Every Community Act:

This measure will establish universal childcare and early learning programs like Headstart for all four- and five-year-olds regardless of income.

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