Jefferson Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 2024—Fox News published a column written by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), advocating for their bipartisan child care legislation. Their proposal aims to address the child care crisis in America, affecting residents of Alabama and Virginia.

In the op-ed, the Senators outline their bills designed to make child care more affordable and accessible by enhancing existing tax credits and creating a pilot program to increase child care supply.

Select excerpts from the column include:

“The national average price of child care was $11,582 in 2023... In both of our states – Virginia and Alabama – child care costs for two young children are more than what the average family spends on housing. This is, unfortunately, the norm across the country. Exacerbating accessibility and affordability hurdles for families is the fact that 100,000 child care workers left the profession during the pandemic.”

“Our proposal is twofold. The Child Care Workforce Act works to build supply... [and] the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act... Together, these measures would lower the cost of child care for families, expand the choices parents have, encourage businesses to support child care supply, and get more resources to child care providers and to the child care workforce.”

“It is critical we find a path forward on actionable common ground solutions to make sure kids have safe, enriching places to learn and grow, child care workers are supported, and parents can participate in the workforce.”

Senators Britt and Kaine’s legislation has received widespread support. For more information about the bill, click HERE.