WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, state legislative leaders and advocates from across the country convened with senior White House officials to discuss solutions for addressing America’s child care crisis.

“This is an exciting signal from the administration that they will continue to prioritize the child care crisis in a new way,” says Child Care for Every Family Network Co-Director Erica Gallegos, who attended the gathering. “As the united movement for universal child care, we know that families and providers in individual communities know best what they need. It’s great to have an administration that recognizes the power in our communities and is excited to work with state leaders to find solutions.”

“Wins at the state level—like our recent victory in California to extend zero copays for 370,000 families and cap fees at 1% for those earning above 75% of state median income—are a great road map for how Congress can build a national system that actually works,” says Jennifer Greppi, Director of Parent Policy of Parent Voices California. “Parents and providers across the country are organized and ready with solutions based on their lived experience to create a national child care system that actually works.”

“With the end of COVID relief dollars coming in September, Congress must focus on securing the $16 billion increase in annual funding for child care that is currently included in the supplemental appropriations bill,” says Gallegos. “Federal lawmakers must pass permanent, adequate federal funding to build the equitable, universal child care system we need.”

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Background: The Biden-Harris Administration has long prioritized child care, beginning with its historic investments as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The President’s Budget reaffirms his commitment to transforming child care by advancing a proposal that would reduce costs for working families making less than $200,000 so that the average family pays no more than $10 per day for high-quality child care. In April, President Biden signed a historic Executive Order calling on nearly every cabinet-level agency to take action to address the affordability, quality, and supply of child care. Implementation of that Order has begun, with HHS having recently set a payment rate floor for all child care providers receiving federal subsidies. And last week, the Vice President announced a proposed rule that will cap co-payments for families receiving child care subsidies to no more than 7% of their incomes.   

The Child Care For Every Family Network brings together the people directly involved in and impacted by child care—parents, providers, and advocates—to build a racial and gender justice-centered child care infrastructure that is accountable to those who have been most harmed by our lack of investment and currently underfunded programs. We are convening families, organizations, and providers across localities, states, and the nation to develop shared strategies to fundamentally transform child care. Learn more at childcareforeveryfamily.org.