Senator Baldwin Working to Improve Child Care Access in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to secure new federal funding in the year-end bipartisan government funding legislation that was signed into law to address the national child care crisis that is impacting families in Wisconsin and across the country.

The bipartisan government funding legislation includes an additional $10 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) that will provide child care assistance to families, and help child care providers cover increased operating costs during the pandemic. Last year, Baldwin cosponsored Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA) to provide this additional funding. Senator Baldwin also helped secure an additional $250 million for the Head Start program in the final legislation, to ensure this program can continue safely serving low-income children and families during the pandemic. 

“This pandemic is not over and millions of American families are still struggling to make ends meet, including having quality child care options during this challenging time,” said Senator Baldwin. “Congress must face our nation’s child care crisis head on. I’m proud we secured federal funding for child care providers, so they can stay open and support the many families across this country who desperately rely on child care services.”

Senator Baldwin is also a cosponsor of the Child Care is Essential Act to address the child care crisis exacerbated by coronavirus through creating a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund. The legislation will provide grant funding to child care providers to stabilize the child care sector and support providers to safely reopen and operate.