Life begins at conception, but it sure doesn’t end there. That’s why, on behalf of 21 million pro-life Democrats nationwide, I urge pro-life conservatives to join me in telling Congress to fix the child care cliff looming over American families and child care providers.
The child care cliff is the term used for the abrupt end of pandemic-era grants that have kept thousands of child care programs afloat nationwide.
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According to one estimate, more than 70,000 child care centers, looking after 3.2 million children, may close after the funding runs out this weekend. Going over this cliff would have devastating consequences for parents, children, and workers in the child care industry.
Parents, especially mothers, would be forced to leave the workforce, change jobs, reduce work hours, or create piecemeal child care options. This disaster would undermine their economic security, career prospects, and family stability. Many parents would also face difficult choices between paying for expensive or low-quality child care or staying home to care for their children, which would increase the risk of poverty and stress.
Children would lose access to high-quality early education and care essential for their development and well-being. Studies show that children who receive high-quality care have better cognitive, social, emotional, and physical outcomes. They also have higher chances of succeeding in school and life. Many children would be left behind or exposed to unsafe or unhealthy environments without adequate child care.
Workers in the child care industry, primarily women and people of color, would lose their jobs and income. These workers are underpaid and undervalued for their vital service to families and society. They earn an average of $14.22 per hour, below the living wage in most states. They also face high turnover, low benefits, and poor working conditions. Without federal support, many of them would join the ranks of the unemployed or underemployed.
In short, going over this cliff would be a national catastrophe.
As a pro-life Democrat, I cannot accept this scenario.
Child care is a public good that benefits everyone and should be affordable. Pro-life Americans do so much to support mothers; expending this same vocal support for parents and child care workers is critical.
These workers deserve respect and recognition for their work and should be paid a fair wage and provided with adequate training and benefits. We need immediate debate, discussion, and solutions to the proposals by President Joe Biden and some members of Congress to expand child tax credits, subsidized child care, and improved pay and standards for child care workers.
These proposals are pro-life, pro-family, pro-work, pro-education, and pro-economy. Our legislators on both sides of the aisle must help parents balance their work and family responsibilities, enhance children’s development and learning opportunities, empower women and minorities in the labor market, reduce inequality and poverty, and boost economic growth and productivity. They would also reflect our values as a nation that cares for its people and future, paving the way for every family to see a pregnancy as a blessing, not a road to hardship or abortion.
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I urge Congress to act swiftly and boldly to fix the child care cliff before it is too late. Now is not a time for division or delay. It is a time for action and solidarity. Now, let us work together to ensure that every child, every parent, and every worker in the child care industry has the opportunity to thrive and flourish.
Kristen Day is the executive director of Democrats for Life.
