WASHINGTON, D.C. November 30, 2024 (Biz Republic) — U.S. Senator George Helmy (D-NJ) this week co-signed a bicameral letter urging for the prioritization of funding for child care in the final Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) funding legislation. The letter, led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), asks appropriators and Senate and House leadership to maintain annual child care funding in order to secure the sector’s survival.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, child care costs have reached unprecedented levels and the child care work force has failed to maintain pre-pandemic levels, leaving child care providers struggling to stay open. The federal government has taken several measures to protect the child care industry from collapse, including providing $15 billion in supplemental funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $24 billion to create the Child Care Stabilization grants, both of which were made available by the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act. Combined, the funding helped more than 220,000 child care providers stay in business, saved an estimated 10 million child care slots, and reduced child care costs for more than 1 million children.
“High-quality, affordable child care is essential to the continued growth of our economy, allowing for parents to lead productive work days with ease of mind knowing their child is in a safe environment,” said Senator Helmy. “As we approach another funding deadline, it’s crucial that we maintain historic investments in the industry for it to thrive and to be easily accessible to all. Every dollar invested in our child care system is a dollar invested into our national economy.”
In New Jersey, the average cost of child care is approximately $1,000, while the average pay for child care workers is around $14.16 per hour. According to a study done by Rutgers University, in conjunction with New Jersey State Policy Lab, child care supply is at 84% of its pre-pandemic work force.
To improve these troubling numbers, the Murphy Administration has invested more than $1 billion in expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care across the state. Governor Murphy recently announced an additional $17 million in funding for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Child Care Facilities Improvement Program, dedicating more than $140 million towards improving child care infrastructure, and representing one of the largest investments of any state in the country.
“The Murphy Administration’s historic investment in child care should be looked at as a national model. Not only has Governor Murphy maintained strong investments in child care throughout his administration, he has been committed to creating a livable wage for employees across the state, including for child care workers,” Senator Helmy continued. “I am proud to do my part and join this effort to secure funding for our nation’s child care system to support and expand on the work being done in New Jersey.”
“Quality, affordable child care is an investment in our children, families, and the community,” said Roseann Mazzeo, Executive Director of Women Rising. “This investment will lead to competitive salaries and professional development for staff, and will promote hiring and retention for eligible job seekers that live locally. In addition, accessible child care allows parents to enter or return to the work force and contribute to their families and local economy.”
“The child care industry continues to be plagued by unaffordability for working parents and a lack of living wages for child care workers,” said United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO Kiran Handa Gaudioso. “Nearly half — 46% — of New Jersey’s child care workers earn wages below the ALICE Threshold, which means they cannot afford the basics for their own families. High turnover and job vacancies are the norm as workers leave the industry — further weakening businesses and creating fewer options for working parents. All of this jeopardizes children’s well-being, workforce success, and broad economic stability.”
“The proposed funding priorities align with Partnership’s mission to reduce barriers for communities experiencing obstacles that inhibit families from thriving. By strengthening the childcare system, we can better support children’s developmental health, alleviate financial stress for working families, address structural inequality, and drive systemic improvements,” said Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, President & CEO, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey.
“The low-income families Oasis serves face exceptional barriers to finding quality childcare; cost and access to subsidies being foremost. The availability of high-quality, affordable care in inner-cities is particularly challenging, as is the availability of centers that can accommodate second shift and weekend hours. Low wages paid to childcare professionals makes it increasingly difficult to attract talent,” said Jennifer Brady, Executive Director of Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children.
Other signatures on the letter included U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirino (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-1), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-41), Sanford Bishop (D-GA-2), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), André Carson (D-IN-7), Sean Casten (D-IL-6), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-20), Sharice Davids (D-KS-3), Danny Davis (D-IL-7), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-8), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Al Green (D-TX-9), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Val Hoyle (D-OR-4), Hank Johnson (D-GA-4), Andy Kim (D-NJ-3), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8), Greg Landsman (D-OH-1), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-2), Lucy McBath (D-GA-7), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-5), Gwen Moore (D-WI-4), Seth Moulton (D-MA-6), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Chris Pappas (D-NH-1), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), Deborah Ross (D-NC-2), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-3), David Scott (D-GA-13), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-7), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Abigail Spanberger (D-IL-7), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-1), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Bennie Thompson (D-MI-2), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Lori Trahan (D-MA-3), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-7), Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), and Nikema Williams (D-GA-5).
To view the full text of the letter, click here.
