Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Politico wrote recently, ``A lack of safe and affordable childcare amid the coronavirus pandemic is keeping many working parents from returning to the office as more companies call employees back to their jobs, threatening to extend the economic crisis and erode decades of gains for women in the workplace.'' In fact, the Bipartisan Policy Center found that at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, 60 percent of childcare centers closed, and one- third of the childcare workforce lost their jobs. The topic of today's debate is an issue that both Republicans and Democrats agree must be addressed. Unfortunately, the legislation being pushed by Democrats spends taxpayer dollars recklessly and layers on additional burdensome requirements. That is why my Republican colleagues have introduced the Back to Work Child Care Grants Act of 2020, which is led by Senator Ernst and Senator Alexander in the Senate and Representative Reed in the House. Unlike the Democrat bill we are considering today, the Back to Work Child Care Grants Act will offer childcare providers solutions and resources, not burdensome red tape. The GOP-led initiative would support childcare providers by offering short-term financial assistance, critical resources to reopen and stay open, all while holding providers accountable to State and local health and safety guidelines.…”