Mary Gay Scanlon: “Even before the pandemic, American families struggled to cover the expense of childcare, with the cost of care for two…”

“Even before the pandemic, American families struggled to cover the expense of childcare, with the cost of care for two kids consuming 20 to 30 percent of the income of most families. Since the pandemic began, the situation has worsened dramatically. Hundreds of Pennsylvania childcare agencies, which operated on the slimmest of margins to begin with, have closed permanently, and already scarce childcare spots have become harder to find. Since the pandemic, the lack of childcare and continuing school closures has resulted in millions of parents, mostly women, losing their jobs or being forced to leave work due to childcare obligations. Families need investment in childcare now. Women can't be asked to bear the cost of not funding these crucial programs any longer. The Build Back Better Act is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet the needs of working families. Access to affordable childcare will strengthen the financial standing of our families, make sure that women are not left behind in our recovery, and help parents enter or reenter the workforce and generate new economic activity. Let's get this done for the American people. ____________________”