[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 165 (Thursday, September 23, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CHILDCARE IS A CRITICAL ECONOMIC ISSUE

  (Ms. SHERRILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, for too long, women 
in our workforce have struggled with almost insurmountable childcare 
issues. Due to our lack of investment, our economy has lost too many 
talented women as they try to juggle the demands of work and childcare.
  After gaining significant ground in the seventies, eighties, and 
nineties, and expanding our workforce, and increasing our GDP in the 
process, women have not made significant gains in the workforce in the 
last two decades. Two decades where women faced economic penalties when 
they were forced to leave the workforce due to lack of quality and 
affordable child care. Two decades where, if we had just kept pace with 
some of our allies, we would have grown our GDP by another $600 
billion.
  I rise today because women falling behind is the American middle 
class falling behind. Penalizing women in the workforce penalizes 
families and imperils opportunities for our children. And this crisis 
has been made exponentially worse by COVID.
  That is why I am calling on all my colleagues to support legislation 
to ensure all families have access to quality and affordable childcare. 
Congress needs to realize this is not simply a women's issue or a 
children's issue. This is a critical economic issue.

                          ____________________