Sara Jacobs: “As a 34-year-old woman, I can tell you that affordable and accessible childcare is a top priority for my generation, but…”

“As a 34-year-old woman, I can tell you that affordable and accessible childcare is a top priority for my generation, but the problem isn't that millennials can't budget or that we are eating too much avocado toast; it is that the cost of childcare has skyrocketed, if you can even find it. In San Diego, the average annual cost for childcare for one infant in a licensed center is more than $19,000, which is out of reach for most middle- and low-income families. And it is not any easier for providers who are in one of the lowest paid professions in the country and struggle to make ends meet and keep their doors open. The free market hasn't fixed the childcare crisis, and small or temporary fixes just aren't good enough. That is why I am proud to introduce the Child Care for Every Community Act today with Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. Our bicameral legislation would guarantee access to childcare that is affordable for every family, and it would support childcare workers in their incredibly important work. We need big, wholesale changes to our social safety net to support kids and families starting with the Child Care for Every Community Act. ____________________”