Rep. Sara Jacobs Joins Care Can’t Wait Rally to Push for Big and Bold Federal Investments in Care Economy
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) joined parents, caregivers, caregiving advocates, and federal lawmakers today at the Care Can’t Wait rally to call for big and bold federal investments in the care economy, including child care, paid leave, and care for older adults and people with disabilities.
Download Photos of Rep. Sara Jacobs at the Care Can’t Wait Rally Here
In her remarks, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said:
“As a 34-year-old woman, most of my conversations revolve around families – who’s having a baby, who’s not, who can find child care, who can’t, who’s unexpectedly caring for loved ones… it goes on and on. That’s why we need a robust care economy – to fill in the gaps and ensure constant, high-quality care for kids, sick loved ones, older adults, and people with disabilities.
“But we all know that we’re far from that reality. Too many families can’t find or afford care that meets their needs. In San Diego, the average annual cost for child care for one infant in a licensed center is more than $19,000. It could cost more than $33,000 for two children! For low and middle-income families, that’s crazy and so far out of reach. And that’s if you’re lucky enough to find a child care spot.
“Last year in San Diego, about 3 in 4 parents said they had trouble finding child care in their area. It’s scary to think that even in one of the wealthiest communities in the country, people can’t find or afford child care. Because if this is such a pervasive problem in my district, just imagine the pain that families across the country are feeling – especially in low-income and rural communities.
“And it’s not any easier on the other side of this equation – for child care providers. Child care workers are in one of the lowest-paid professions in the country, and yet they’re responsible for crucial care and early learning that are fundamental for future success.
“High stress and low pay are contributing to a shortage of child care workers. In fact, we’re still short 60,000 daycare workers since before the pandemic, and the system already wasn’t working for families and providers.
“While we’ve made incredible progress to keep the child care sector from collapsing during the pandemic, now isn’t the time to throw in the towel and say we’ve done all we can. Now is the time to reimagine and rebuild a more just and equitable society — one that invests in our kids and our families and gives them dignity and agency over their own lives. One that ensures all families who need it have access to care.
“We can’t delay this important work and wait for Democrats to retake the majority – we need to make it easier for families right now. Because while this is incredibly important for our children and families and care workers, it’s also incredibly important for our economy as a whole. We need to keep the pressure on Republicans to work with us right now. We need to make the bold but necessary reforms to finally fix the care crisis right now. Because care can’t wait. Parents and providers can’t wait. And the next generation can’t wait.”
Addressing the child care crisis has been a major focus of Congresswoman Sara Jacobs’ career and her work in Congress. Earlier this month, she joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) in introducing the Child Care for Every Community Act, which would ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities by establishing a network of federally-supported, locally administered child care options.
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