[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 135 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMERICA HAS A CHILDCARE CRISIS

  (Ms. WILD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, as we face the COVID-19 health and economic 
crisis, childcare centers across our country are on the verge of 
collapse. The consequences can be felt throughout our society: From 
children, to childcare workers, to working parents--disproportionately 
women--who were already struggling to stay afloat given the acute 
national shortage of affordable childcare services. For these parents, 
who depend on childcare in order to maintain their careers and pay 
their bills, the answer is more affordable childcare, not less.
  The Child Care Is Essential Act would provide direct financial 
support for childcare providers during and after this crisis. The Child 
Care for Economic Recovery Act would deliver crucial Federal 
investments in childcare facilities. These are two immediate steps that 
we can take on behalf of working families right now.
  Once we pass this legislation, our focus must turn to addressing the 
lack of affordability in childcare more so that we can finally ensure 
that every working family who needs childcare can obtain and afford it. 
We must support working families by expanding access to at-home 
learning and childcare.

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