U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) are leading 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.
The Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act would:
- Award grants to eligible partnerships such as institutions of higher education, child care providers, or relevant workforce training programs with schools;
- Establish, expand, or support career and technical education and career pathway programs of study in early childhood education.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
The bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act is supported by Advance CTE, American Federation of Teachers, Association of Career and Technical Education, Bipartisan Policy Center, Council for Professional Recognition, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Care Aware, Children’s Defense Fund, Early Care and Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Education Association, National Head Start Association, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Save the Children, and Zero to Three.
Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here.
