Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Speaks on House Floor on Importance of Child Care Workers, Investing in Care Economy
Jacobs: “let’s make sure that we care for the amazing workers who care for our future”
Yesterday, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) spoke on the House Floor in support of child care workers and the importance of investing in the care economy.
Congresswoman Jacobs is a strong proponent of building America’s care economy and met last week with child care and elder care providers and workers in San Diego. Congresswoman Jacobs is a lead co-sponsor of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act.
Congresswoman Jacobs also fought for the $39 billion in funding for child care, which was included in the American Rescue Plan passed in March. The White House’s American Family Plan would include further investments in child care and early education, including universal pre-k.
Congresswoman Jacobs remarks were as follows [YouTube, Twitter]:
Mr. Speaker, even before COVID-19 hit, the care economy was at the heart of our communities.
Care workers keep our kids safe, our families healthy, and our businesses open.
Last week, I met with a group of child care providers in San Diego – extraordinary women who do this work because they have a passion for helping kids.
They love their jobs, and they love the kids they care for – but that doesn’t mean they should have to accept low wages and job insecurity.
When the pandemic hit, thousands of child care centers across the country closed, including more than 500 in San Diego County – leading to devastating job loss in an industry that is 95% women.
The American Rescue Plan included $39 billion in grants to help parents afford child care, and funding to help providers stay open and pay workers.
Now we need to go further.
The American Families Plan will create universal pre-k, make child care affordable to all, and pay care workers a living wage.
Madam Speaker, let’s make sure that we care for the amazing workers who care for our future.
I yield back.