Scanlon Backs Affordable Child Care For Every Pennsylvania Family

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Delaware County Democrat, joined lawmakers in the House and Senate in supporting legislation to provide high-quality, affordable childcare with a network of federally supported, locally administered childcare options.

“The nationwide child care crisis is hurting parents, families, and providers across our commonwealth — and it’s holding our entire economy back,” said Rep. Scanlon.

“Investing in childcare and early learning opportunities is an investment in our workforce, our kids, and our local small businesses.”

Here is a summary of the Child Care for Every Community Act:

• Ensures universal access: The legislation provides a mandatory federal investment to establish and support a network of locally-run Child Care and Early Learning Centers and Family Child Care Homes so that every family, regardless of their income or employment, can access high-quality, affordable child care options for their children from birth to school entry.
• Guarantees affordability: Half of the families nationwide will pay no more than $10 a day for child care, and all families would see their childcare costs capped.
• Provides high-quality, essential developmental services: Centers and Family Child Care Homes will meet high-quality standards based on current U.S. military child care and the Head Start program standards.
• Locally administered and federally supported: The federal government would partner with local sponsors – cities, school districts, states, counties, tribal organizations, or other nonprofit community entities – to administer the program in a way that prioritizes local community needs and coheres to early childhood systems.
• Invests in child care workers: The legislation ensures parity by requiring that wages and benefits for child care workers be comparable to those of similarly-credentialed local public school teachers and invests in worker training and professional development modeled after the military child care program.