A new bill has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, which aims to provide relief to parents who pay for child care. This bill also seeks to help child care workers. If passed, this legislation could significantly ease the burden on families who struggle to afford quality child care.
Britt, in introducing her bipartisan bill, empathized with parents who struggle with the expenses of child care.
Britt shared that they had to spend a significant amount of money to send both their daughter and son to child care.
Parents in Alabama typically spend a minimum of $7,000 annually on each child, with expenses increasing for younger children.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a federal tax credit for child care, in addition to increasing the funding allocated to child care programs through grants.
Families with one child are eligible to receive $2,500, while those with two or more children can receive $4,000.
Rhonda Mann, the Executive Director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children, has expressed her support for Governor Kay Ivey’s recent initiative, Working for Alabama. According to Mann, this new package would provide additional relief measures for the people of Alabama.
According to Mann, the plan is set to begin in 2025 and aims to encourage employers to either invest in child care or provide child care benefits for their working parents.
Britt’s bipartisan bill aims to not only provide tax credits but also increase grant money for caregiver employers to offer competitive wages. This will ensure that children in Alabama receive the best possible care.
According to Mann, the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for their development, with 90% of it happening during this period. However, we tend to underestimate the significance of this time and do not invest enough money in it. Child care providers are often paid as if they are just babysitters, without realizing that their role is much more than just watching kids play all day. Mann emphasizes that this is not the case and we need to recognize the importance of investing in child care during these early years.
According to Mann, the issue of affordable and high-quality child care has been a concern for many years, but the pandemic brought it to the forefront. As per Sen. Britt’s report, the cost of child care has surged by 220% since 2020.
