Political Quotes

“I rise today in strong support of Senator Murray's Child Care Stabilization Act. We know how much of a lifeline this program has been for families, for childcare providers, and our economy since it was established in 2021. Thanks to this program, 220,000 childcare providers stayed afloat. Up to 10 million kids' childcare slots were saved, and the unemployment rate for moms with kids under age 6 empowered moms to return to work at rates we have not seen. The need for high-quality childcare is one of those issues I hear about all over Minnesota, from the Iron Range up north to our farming towns in Southern Minnesota, from urban areas in the Twin Cities to suburbs across the metro. It doesn't matter how qualified you are or how badly you may want a job, if there is no one to watch your kids, you can't go to work. Too often, people are in this situation because there are simply no childcare options. I think about Pam and her husband, who live in Cottage Grove, MN. They both work full time and rely on daycare centers to look after their two little kids. They are paying more than $2,800 a month for childcare, meaning Pam's husband's whole paycheck goes toward paying those costs. Pam told me: We may soon join the increasing ranks of parents forced to leave the workforce because they have no other option. Another Minnesotan, Erin, is a new mom, who a year after having her baby still can't find an open childcare spot.…”