[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E692-E693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CHILD CARE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT AND THE CHILD CARE IS ESSENTIAL 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2020

  Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of legislation that is 
before the House to ensure access to child care, a critical work 
support for tens of millions of Americans.
  Childcare is a necessary work enabler. Conversely, lack of access to 
childcare hinders the ability of many, including women and marginalized 
persons, to enter, re-enter, or stay in the workforce. High quality and 
affordable childcare is a necessity, not a luxury so I am glad that 
these two excellent bills are being debated today.
  Even with recent increases in federal appropriations for programs 
like the Child Care and Development Block Grant, only about 1 in 6 
eligible children received federal childcare assistance prior to the 
pandemic, fewer children than were helped in 2006.
  The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated prior childcare shortages, 
making it difficult for essential workers to find care during their 
work hours--even for those who had reliable childcare before the 
pandemic. In the meantime, childcare providers have been hit hard, 
laying off employees and closing permanently or facing the threat of 
permanent closure. During this pandemic, childcare facilities that want 
to stay open or reopen are generally serving far fewer children. A 
recent survey found that the majority (65 percent of those childcare 
facilities that remain open report operating at less than 25 percent 
capacity, so that even while open they continue to lose money.
  Yet as great as the need was before this pandemic, it may get worse.
  One estimate by the Center for American Progress found that nearly 
4.5 million existing childcare slots are at risk of being lost 
permanently.
  Without access to childcare, many Americans cannot go back to work. 
Without support from the federal government, quite frankly, I am 
concerned that the loss of childcare slots will continue to hinder our 
communities even long after we hit public health milestones needed to 
safely reopen.
  With the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 7327) and the 
Child Care is Essential Act (H.R. 7027), House Democrats are again 
leading the way in helping ensure we meet the real needs facing 
Americans hard hit by this pandemic. I urge my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle in both chambers to join us.
  Among other provisions, H.R. 7327 would make the Child and Dependent 
Care Tax Credit refundable, allowing many low- and middle-income 
families to claim the credit for the first time. To help childcare 
providers, the bill would create a 50 percent refundable payroll tax 
credit for mortgage obligations, rent obligations, and utility payments 
incurred by childcare facilities that have been affected by COVID-19.
  H.R. 7327 would also increase mandatory federal funding through the 
Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) program for the first time in 
over decade, raising the amount to $10 billion per year. The bill also 
supplies an additional pot of funds--some $850 million--to help 
essential workers find childcare.

[[Page E693]]

  H.R. 7027 would create a Child Care Stabilization Fund within the 
existing Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program and 
invests $50 billion into that fund to help providers through these 
challenging times. These funds would be targeted to pay salaries, 
purchase PPE and cleaning equipment, rent and other fixed costs, and 
other goods and services necessary to maintain or resume operation.
  Additionally, H.R. 7027 would require providers helped by these funds 
to pay their staff at the same compensation level as pre-COVID-19. 
Finally, the bill would require providers who open or who remain open 
to meet health and safety guidance issued by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and state and local authorities. Assisted 
providers who are closed would have to provide an assurance that they 
will reopen their program when they are able to implement such 
guidance.
  I am pleased to support these bills and urge my colleagues to do the 
same.

                          ____________________