Immediate Federal Funding Needed to Save Child Care Programs

The impending closure of over 70,000 child care programs, due to the expiration of American Rescue Plan stabilization funding, is a crisis that demands immediate attention. This will result in approximately 3.2 million children losing their child care spots, a loss of $10.6 billion in economic activity per year, and parents losing nearly $9 billion in earnings annually. Furthermore, the child care workforce stands to lose an additional 232,000 jobs. While state-level efforts are commendable, federal funding is indispensable for the sector's stability and accessibility. It is crucial to prioritize child care and invest in sustainable solutions to support families and the economy. The consequences of inaction are too severe to ignore.