The following is shared from Cascade Business News:
On May 20, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act. The bipartisan bill would address the child care workforce shortage by investing in career and technical education (CTE) programs and incentivizing more students to enter the early childhood workforce upon graduation.
“As I hold town halls in all of Oregon’s 36 counties every year, I hear from folks about child care being too inaccessible. Ensuring working families can access decent, affordable child care is an essential foundation for the middle class to thrive,” said Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill invests in the child care workforce, a win for parents who need child care and for Oregon businesses who need more child care providers.”
“Every parent deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child is in good hands while they go to work and provide for their family. For too long, finding affordable, quality childcare has been out of reach for working Americans,” said McBath. “The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act will invest in career and technical programs that open doors for students who want to serve their communities as early childhood educators. It’s our responsibility to prepare the next generation of childcare workers and give families the support they need to thrive.”
In the House, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) co-led the introduction of the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act.
“Child care is essential for children, families, businesses, and communities to thrive,” said Bonamici. “We need more students to enter this critical profession, and career and technical education (CTE) programs have great potential to make it easier and more affordable for them to do so. I’m grateful to work with a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce this commonsense legislation.”