WASHINGTON— This week the House of Representatives passed the Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act. The bills would provide federal funds to childcare providers to help them adhere to health and safety guidance during the pandemic while providing much needed affordable childcare options to working families so that we can safely reopen the economy. After voting for the legislation, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“As workers have had to stay home to keep themselves and their families safe from COVID-19,  the child care industry has taken a serious economic blow. This legislation provides access to much-needed federal funds for the industry to remain afloat while making the necessary changes to adhere to new health and safety guidelines while addressing longstanding affordability issues. This is imperative as some child care providers are caring for the children of essential workers.

“Child care workers should be able to go to work never having to worry about their safety. Once the economy opens, parents should be able to return to work with the confidence that their children are safe. These two pieces of legislation are critical to saving jobs and reopening the economy, and it’s time for the Senate to act on them.”

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