Advocates and educators testifying on childcare access and affordability in the u. S. Before the Senate Health education labor and pensions committee. They discuss expanding childcare access and the impact of available childcare on the economy and training and education requirements for caregivers and educators. This is about two hours. Lets get the show in the. Road Senate Committee on House Institution and labor coming to order. And let me begin by thanking all of our panelists for being here for what will be i think a very important discussion of what tens of millions of families in this country. As the nation, we often talk about family values and how much we love our children. But unfortunately we have a funny way of showing that love. In America Today, we have the highest rates of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth. And we have if we will be discussing today, a broken its dysfunctional childcare system. It is no great secret thats the psychologists tell us thats the most important years of human intellectual and Emotional Development are zero through four. That is what the psychologist tell us. Yet there are very few people i think who will come to the conclusion in this country that we provide our youngest children with a kind of love and care and attention that they need. And that really is disgraceful. Young people are the future of american in many ways we have turned our backs on them. We are the richest country in the history of the world. And there is no excuse if we got our priorities right, why we should not be providing the highest Quality Childcare for little ones, and to ease problems for their parents. Again i dont have to tell anybody who is here in America Today the cost of childcare for a variety of reasons is outrageously high. And unaffordable. Unaffordable to millions and millions of working class and middle class families. Inform, on which i think is about the national average, its about 15,000. Here in d. C. As your staff will tell you if youve any kids who have staff. If youve any staff who have children, they will tell you you know what childcare is in d. C. . It is about 30,000 a, year which is very high. Maximum 30,000 a year if you are on the payroll. And how can a working class family of people make 50 60,000 70,000 a year . And afford to spend 15,000 a year on child care or even more . And the result of that is, that according to a recent survey, 40 of parents in america have gone into debt to due to the cost of childcare and nearly 30 of how to make unacceptable choices paying for childcare or paying their rent. In other, words, if you want to get america and your working class were gonna make you pay for that. You will go deeply in debt. Thank you for having a child. Not exactly what i think we should be doing as a nation. All over, not only is the cost of childcare outrageously high but for families in most parts of this country it is very very difficult to find a slot. And i will not surprise anybody on this committee, because weve all heard the story. People get pregnant in the first thing they do is call of a Child Care Center or place and trying to find a spot. And they are told, well maybe but it will be in all likelihood that you will be on a waiting list. And the other point that i would make is not only the childcare is terribly expensive. Not only is there not enough slots. But if we appreciate the kids and we understand how important care is for the kids, that obviously the conclusion is you are going to respect the people who work with the children. Who you cant argue do some of the most important work in america. Nurturing the little children. And yet we are paying in this country, those, workers outrageously low wages. We are paying them starvation wages and we are talking about paying peoplelelelele 13, 14 a. And the result of that is tens of thousands of people are leaving and are making more working in mcdonalds then they can nurturing our little children. And the last point that i would make is that if you think this is about the children and you think there is this about the parents you are wrong. It is also about the economy. Nobody has the exact numbers but ive heard that there are at least many many hundreds of thousands of people, mostly women, who would like to enter the workforce, but they cant. Because they cannot find quality affordable childcare. We made progress in the American Rescue plan and finally leon i States Congress says, we appreciate our children we appreciate our workers, we appreciate our parents are gonna do something about it. And we significantly increased funding for childcare. Not enough but we made some progress. Right now though, we are at a precipice where that funding may disappear. That funding kept over 200,000 childcare providers in business and sustained childcare for nearly 10 million kids and preventing the million childcare workers from using losing their jobs. According to it is a. Good news the bad news is that congress does nothing this will expire on september 30th of this year, making a very bad situation worse. We cannot afford to allow that to happen, we need to renew that vital funding. But let us be clear, that is not all we need to do. We need a vision for all those at the family values. We need a vision of the future and understand that everybody in america, every family has the right to high quality in affordable childcare. Child care workers deserve decent pay for the important work that they do. And we must expand the number of childcare programs available slip anybody in america can get the quality care they need. They look forward to working with all of my colleagues on this committee to make that a reality, and with that let me recognize thank, you senator sanders. Child care obviously is too expensive for those who need it. But i think it is important to note that it has become more expensive as we have pumps more federal dollars into it. Kind of odd. Im a, doctor i always say in health care as a doctor dont just will through a lot more money added we get and why did we sit and thank . I will point out that we can agree that childcare is important for working families. At least this republican. More government and more of the kind of spending that Congressional Democrats are doing is not a. Solution i will point out that after failing to convince americans that the build back better plan was a good idea, democrats are providing additional federal dollars under the guise of a crisis. A crisis which we will talk about that. This committee does oversee a block grant that is a federal Program Providing child care systems to working families, low income working families, through a Voucher Program which retains Parental Choice. My democratic colleagues are trying to create a governmentrun childcare system. This is despite a 2022 Bipartisan Policy Center, who finds 57 of parents prefer informal childcare over formal Childcare Centers, including if they are free and conveniently located. A one size fits all model of institutional childcare with massive federal spending doesnt seem to match what parents want toward working families need. I will also note by the way, the irony is not lost on anyone that we are days away from the federal government, theoretically defaulting on the stat and we are discussing among other things an additional 600 billion dollars to spend on a governmentrun institutionalized childcare system. So, lets think about this. By the way, we spoke of a crisis. The plan comes in response to a crisis of its own making. As a democrat flooded the child Care Industry with a 39 billion dollars in what was supposed to be a short term covid19 spending. There is 18 billion dollars it is still not been spent. The department of health and Human Services had to grant nine states for territories and any two tribes waivers going back to 2019 because they have not been able to spend their money on time. I would also like to point out that hhs us and the governor dependability office is an official source of information that cannot tell us how the childcare funding is being used. And anecdotally, there are stories of the money not being used well. For example, i have heard that its not been used for the direct operation running the Child Care Center. But on ancillary issues which are peripheral to actually providing childcare. And i look forward to hearing from hhs and geo about what they found. And we need this information. We can say oh my gosh, they could spend a whole lot more money. There is a crisis and we have to do something. It is very emotional. But we dont know how the money is, and there are 18 billion dollars out there. And we dont know the money that has been spent and how it has been spent. We should have this information to understand the scope and to make an informed decision about potential legislation. It kind of blows my mind that we would dramatically increase funding without knowing how the existing funding is being spent. Just think about that. 18 billion left to be spent. Will dramatically increase the funding and we dont know how the money that weve all been put out there has been spent. Now, keep in mind that the massive unchecked spending is how this crisis was created. Now we are told that the crisis can only be solved with even more massive federal takeover policies and funding, in some cases removing Parental Choice. If there is one thing that we learned during the covid19 pandemic, parents want to be involved. This committee should make it easier for americans to pick the best childcare option for their family. Not financially coerce them into a federal government for an institution. By the way, we have seen this movie before. As federal for example Student Loans. As more federal assistance is moving towards Student Loans the cost of student, a Higher Education skyrocket. Its now it is to the point where we have got to forgive a lot of Student Loans, because, i could keep going but you know what my point is. I will also point out that as pointed out by a man named Matthew Desmond in his book evicted, poverty and profit in the american city, when the federal government through additional money at housing programs the funding was largely swallowed up by a bureaucracy in charge rather than actually meeting those in need on the ground. I will point, out mr. Desmond im sure would selfidentify as a liberal. He is writing about a need to further address poverty. There is nothing in here that would suggest he is a conservative. There is a lot in there to say that he is looking and how we spend money in bureaucracy it does not meet the needs of those on the ground. Lets just not to do something, lets think. Now, when we speak about making childcare affordable through federal assistance, we have to make sure that we are not worsening the very problem we wish to solve. Or fueling an ever exploiting cost of this transfer on to the back of taxpayers. And by the way, it is worth repeating that there are still billions of unspent dollars being used to address childcare through the end of the next fiscal year. I will point out this is but there are billions to address it through the end of the next fiscal year. And we are having this hearing when there are 90 Different Health care reauthorizations. Health care we authorizations, going before this committee, which will expire in september if we do not address this. To be more specific the committee has not formally considered bipartisan texts, let alone marked up anything. If these are not addressed before august recess, that means we will have less which means we will have less than two months to do non reauthorizations or it will not happen. This is a basic responsibility of the committee and a lack of progress towards accomplishing this basic responsibilities concerning. Now, childcare is incredibly important issue. We have nine Crucial Health care we authorizations about to expire in september. Hopefully the june calendar for this committee will prioritize getting those done. How do we finish . I think the witnesses will be in here. They care deeply about affordable childcare. What to the American People dont know is why this is going to be different than all of the other patterns like Higher Education and health care and other areas, where increased federal spending has done a little to improve quality or costs and in many instances has done the opposite. We want affordable childcare and we do not want more bureaucracy and more Government Spending that is wasted. Without any yield. S let me now turn to senator wuhan who will introduce our first witness, who is secretary elizabeth kaczynski of new mexico. Thank you to the chairman of the Ranking Member for holding todays hearing. And thank you to all of our witnesses for being here today as a head start, i know the value of a high quality Early Childhood education. And i believe that congress should be strengthening its support for childcare in this country. Not taking steps backwards. And it might surprise, you there are only two sitting u. S. Senators who went to and im proud to be one of. Them i am incredibly grateful to welcome our secretary, Elizabeth Groginsky. Who is our cabinet secretary for the Early Childhood Education Department from new mexico. Just four years ago, before it came out from the Casey Foundation which is an annual report mentoring a student will be in across the country. We are very thankful in our state that our governor stepped forward and she initiated something that was important for us back in mexico. I think that an example across the country of something where we are now one of few states including alabama and georgia in massachusetts and washington, to do that. And what our governor did was she created a new cabinet secretary position, an agency in 2019, to put programs of childrens zero to five under one roof. Secretary groginsky answered the call. She is our first cabinet secretary for Early Childhood education in this capacity and helping families and helping children in new mexico. Now, thanks to the flexibility baked into the federal childcare assistance and the amount, provided new mexico is able to make significant steps in improving and helping children. But improving the system that we have in our states. Secretary groginsky is here to share her story of how transformational these onetime investments were. But also to emphasize that they are worth sustaining. It is critical for congress to look at what worked with the pandemic. With this investment. Helping kids. And how it made a difference in peoples lives. And for the committee to come together to restart the bipartisan conversation as well. So i want to thank and welcome our secretary and i want to say thank you for being here to help share your story. Thank you. Secretary groginsky, the floor is yours. Thank you, senator lujan. Good morning chairman sanders and Ranking Member cassidy and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting me to testify about new mexicos success towards building a high quality, equitable and affordable Early Childhood system that supports families needs by delivering earlier dictation in care for Young Children during their years of most critical and rapid developments. As an antedates teen beautiful nieces and nephews, a great aunt of 19 and in my role as cabinet secretary, i know firsthand the struggles enjoys of working families and childcare providers. Yeah i will discuss how new mexico transforms trial here to support families, improve children shortened on farm outcomes, and increased and strengthen the childcare workforce that cares for and educate them. These actions, taken, together ultimately fuel the Economy Today and into the future. Our state has a unique historical context, diverse cultures and languages with families and traditions going back many hundreds of years. We are shape by 23 sovereign tribes which comprise 11 of our population in 49 hispanic population. A graced of our city which contributes to the depth and the beauty of our state. Despite these strength, new mexico a struggle for generations to realize its potential. The reasons for this are complex and many rooted in historical inequities. Under the leadership of our governor, Michelle Lujan grisham, new mexico has pursued a bold transformational visitor vision. Like every other state their child Care Industry was on the brink of collapse during the early months of the pandemic. Providers of and revenue plummeted exacerbating issues with retaining staff. Fortunately the federal government recognize that childcare is crucial to families in the local economies and made historic investments in the industry. Amidst this crisis, new mexico identified an opportunity with these federal funds, to stabilize and remake the foundation of the states childCare Industry. Critical to the success of this federal funding funding was its flexibility. Because of this flexibility, new mexico could be nimble and created with these funds. And preserve the Delivery System that gives families the choices that they want and need. With the, support the state established groundbreaking initiatives and policy changes. First, we stabilize the industry to ensure access to high quality education. New mexico is a low point in childcare capacity came in february 2021, when 15 of prepandemic capacity had been eliminated. We acted swiftly, disturbing over hundred and 63 million in federally funded grants to more than 1000 childcare providers. Allowing more programs to reopen and stay open, and providers reported that these stabilization grants save that there is no citizen allowed them to emerge from the pandemic Even Stronger than before. Second, we improve the long term viability of the workforce. And supported parents rights through child care assistance rates which reflect the true cost of care. New mexico became the first state of the nation, along with, d. C. To use a federally approved cost model to affirm and determine subsidy rates. Most states use a Traditional Market rate study which sets rates based on what providers are charging parents. This method is flawed because childcare tuition remains artificially low due to families and ability to afford the full cost of quality care. Jewish wednesdays low to keep families from being priced out, so provides revenues and wages remain low. New mexicos cost model part illustrated providers to increase their employees compensation, have a healthier business bottom line, and we can serve more children. There are, new mexico strengthens families by significantly expanding eligibility and waving parents copayments. The state increased our income eligibility to 400 of the federal Poverty Level and waved all family copayments. This is been a gamechanger for working families who have routinely spent a third of their income on childcare. Relieved of this crippling financial burden, working families can better afford went rent and food and transportation and health care and other activities that improve their families stabilities security and wellbeing. Fourth, state expanded childcare supply and access. Like most, dates mexicos longstanding shortage of health care supply. To address, this the state allocated over 11 million in Administration Funds into 37 guarantees with an increasing capacity by 1200. Finally, we advanced a diverse and well compensated Early Childhood workforce. We usually relief funds to give a 1500 dollar recruitment bonus and a three dollar an hour raise. Weve also invested in free college, advanced credentials. In closing, Public Investment and leadership makes a difference. The relief funds equipped our state to transform our child Care Industry. Today, new mexico leasing asian and Early Childhood investment and innovation. And it is a roadmap for other states in similar changes. Whoever, continued federal investment is necessary to maintain the transformational gains in states. New mexico is proof of the enormous impact that a significant federal investment can have on children, families, and their communities. Investments in quality file here is an investment and more top vibrant and secure future for our families. Learning from the extraordinary investments made during the pandemic i urge members of this committee and congress and the federal administration to maintain these investments and commit to a long term state funding strategy, which sustains the significant advancements that we others have made. Thank you for your time in this opportunity to share new mexicos experience and vision for the future of our children. Thank you very, much. Secretary next witness will be lauren hogan who is the managing director of policy and professional advancement as the National Association for the education of Young Children. She is a National Policy expert on childcare Early Learning and miss haugen, thanks very much for being in the house. Thank you so much, senator. German, sanders thank you Ranking Member cascade members of the committee. It is a privilege to be here today as a parent and on behalf of the Early Childhood committee. Im honored to have the opportunity to share educators stories into show how helping them helps families. And to talk with you about how we can solve the crisis of hands. Early childhood educators are the lynch driving childhood equality and supply for all ages and all settings. Together with families, they help children build strong foundations. And their success is proven by in decades of evidence testing and long term benefits of investing. In quality Early Learning. However, these educators, women and women of color are earning wages it undermines their skilled and complex work. Facing them into, choices parents of Young Children pay more for childcare and college to asian. And a lack of investment in child care for infants and toddlers alone across our country 120 billion dollars each year. How does this happen . Childcare is unique. A textbook example of a market failure which neither families nor educators can absorb the two true costs. Imagine a deep hole in the ground surrounded by quicksand. Educators and parents are struggling to stand on the edge and build a bridge across with public funding or should be. The educators try, my maxing out credit cards like atlanta in california, or accessing Social Security early like the Family Childcare provider in iowa, or foregoing salary like sheila in tennessee. Parents are trying to, but is leaving washington, says we are barely making it. The start of the pandemic worsens these preexisting challenges. But amid the crisis, childcare relief friends arrive. In addition to helping families, but learning copays and expanding eligibility, every state set sub stabilization Grant Programs that are responsive to community meets. Supporting providers, so they can support families and children and businesses. You have heard about the amazing work in new mexico. But we know it is 75 of states, who increase provider payment rates. And many from kansas to kentucky, michigan oklahoma and ohio, are building the supply and retention of the Early Childhood workforce. 300,000 new childcare slots or created and the number of lessons programs today exceeds the number and prepandemic thanks to a federal relief. Grass did not fill the hole or stabilize the quicksand around us. And theyve been a saving grace for the 220,000 childcare programs and certainly in children and their families. And one, survey 92 of childcare programs helped keep their program open. And 30 would have closed permanently without them. Civilization grants have been greatly appreciated, says nichols, a senator in new jersey. And i pray they will continue. Unfortunately for nicole and educators everywhere, civilization Grant Funding has ended and parents and educators feel themselves thinking back into the quicksand. The director of louisiana said it after the end of stabilization grants, the increasing pay will need to be passed on to families. We really dont want to do this. But will have no choice. Approximately 40 of senators agree, saying their programs to are going to be forced to race to action. They say theyll cut raises one in five, they serve fewer children. Only 30 years in the family trials your respondents could say that the program would be financed civilization grass and. It is a climate of extreme uncertainty, for these Small Businesses. Educators are walking, away parents and brothers are desperate. A senator in tennessee is hiring people now, that she never wouldve interviewed before the pandemic. This is a last resort decision that should really worry us all. Parents of providers feel like they are, failing but it is the market is failing them. Crying under lying imbalance requires government intervention, not to restrict individual choices. But to enhance them. Congressman gerard must recognize that childcare is a public good that requires Public Investment and steps in with subsidized funding as it does with other industries when the free markets fail. Building a bipartisan support with the knowledge that good things happen when Congress Funds childcare and Early Learning, we urge you to prioritize the investments needed to keep the quicksand stabilized, and fill the hole. Support every state sufficient and predictable funding inflexibility that allows them to finance the true cost of care. Investing two educational compensation, mike mile childcare more affordable, and support, infants preschoolers, and schools children in the conference of mixed Delivery System that provides family choice. The quicksand is strong, and your parents and educators cannot build a bridge below. Thankfully we know that federal investments in childcare work, so Congress Must make them before us today. Thank you very much. Thank you very. Much like me now turn to senator cain, who will introduce our next witness. Well my, colleagues i am really honored to have the chance to introduce you to mrs. Cheryl morman and she plays unImportant Role in this panel. Because she represents home health. Home childcare providers. Family childcare providers. Miss morman is the current president of the virginia lines for Family Childcare associations. It is the only statewide association in virginia, solely focused on home based Family Childcare. And is an affiliate of the National Association for Family Childcare. Miss mormon has owned and operated the Family Childcare program. Blessings from above in my hometown of richmond for over 20 years. Blessings from above stayed open throw to the covid19 pandemic. Serving children of First Responders and teachers and other essential professions. And this is an important one. Mrs. Morman personally called over 400 childcare providers during covid within the commonwealth. To ensure that they knew how to access the childcare stabilization grants. She represents publicly funded Family Childcare providers on the virginia Early Childhood Advisory Committee and she works with the Virginia Department of education in tandem with the Virginia Commonwealth University to develop a unified set of urban learning and Development Standards for childrens age birth to five. Shes a member of a working group by the virginia partner of social services to build childcare supply in underserved areas using a tool kit for community services. Im grateful for the work that she does and im grateful that she is with us today thank you for all you do misses morman. You are recognized. Well they make a little bit closer to your mouth. Please. Good, morning chairman, sanders Ranking Member cassidy and i was at the committee. Thank you for this opportunity. I am Cheryl Morman president of the Family Childcare association. The only state association in virginia whos focuses Family Childcare. Which refers to small childcare programs operated from somebodys home. I have been licensed Family Childcare Business Owner and educator since 2002. The children in my care are six weeks to five years of age. I am a wife and a mother and a grandmother. Since testimony this morning is short i will get to the topic at hand. The childcare crisis and the role of the federal government in improving this crisis. Prior to covid19, my Family Childcare business was at capacity with a waiting list. I had to fulltime teachers along with myself. 11 families paid privately. And the only one in my family who participated in the childcare subsidy program. I was able to maintain payroll and my expenses. There were parents there who we have difficulty from time to time. But they made too much money to qualify for assistance. I would have to work out payment arrangements often to my businesses detriment. And continue to meet the needs of the family and children interested in my care. Then covid19 hit. Many daycare facilities began to close. Over many childcare facilities continue to operate. The funding provided by congress for covid19 relief, particularly 50 billion dollars since december 2020, helped me to stabilize and get through without sacrificing Critical Services to the parents i served. To help families with the cost of childcare, the federal funding allowed the states to increase the income eligibility and do away with their copay. Which means more families could qualify for childcare assistance. The number of families in my program benefiting from childcare assistance increased from 1 to 6. Someone you family summer families not cared for before that. They all qualified for childcare assistance. I went to the state also increase to the number of absences covered. Providing resources based on it romantic not attendance. This meant that if a family had covid or was exposed to covid and how to be out for 7 to 10 days, prior to the provider, they could still receive tuition and child remaining with the program. Other crucial assistance received included four rounds of care grants. 25,000 in American Rescue plan stabilization funds, a payment protection plan. Unemployment insurance. And coworker very when my husband lost his job after almost 30 years with the same company. And finally, a Small Business Administration Loan a 46,000. This one was needed to keep my Program Doors open. And a roof over our head. Sensible, godless of all the help, operational expenses increased dramatically. My life during the covid19 pandemic is about survival. And in a lot of, ways it still is. I want to reiterate that to the relief funding was critical to saving the child Care Industry. And more specifically, saving my own business. I believe it more providers would have closed if congress did not act significantly and swiftly. But, systemic challenges persist. For example, i have vacant slots i cannot fill without an additional staff person. I recently interviewed a young woman who is well qualified. But as i shared the pain, she declined. Virginia reasons lee offering a new solution to address the childcare staff crisis. They will attract and train you people in working childcare programs if we agreed to pay 17 an hour for one year. This is a great step but i currently pay 12 an hour and cannot afford this increase. Good policy solutions without additional sustained funding will not work. I want to pay more since my staff deserve more but i want to stress that i will go out of business without additional sustained funding. Furthermore, i hear from many Family Childcare providers who are disproportionately women of color that they are close to closing, and leaving child care altogether. According to a recent report from naeyc, 40 of respondents from Family Childcare homes reported that they are considering leaving their program or closing their Family Childcare homes. Primarily due to the low compensation and funding we must invest in laying a Firm Foundation for all children. Not just the ones from wealthy families. The families needs different options which are not available without additional sustained funding. Again, thank you for this opportunity. Thank you very much senator cassidy. Thank you, chairman sanders. We dont today by miss carrie lukas, present of the independent form. The policy expert and mother of five kids. The graduated princeton and Harvard Community school government. Miss lukas can speak to what parents want antibodies. The appropriate role of the federal government is helping to address childcare shares, and her experience as a working mom. Were looking forward to your testimony on the choices. Why childcare shouldnt operate like a k12 Public School. And with what it says about government foreign institutional childcares impact on children. We welcome miss lukas and look forward to her testimony. Thank you very. Much good, morning i am carrie lukas and im the president of the independent womens forum. Independent moments form is a Nonprofit Organization dedicated to developing and advancing policies that are not just well intended, but the next enhanced peoples freedoms and opportunities and wellbeing. I am a mother of five children between the ages eight and 17. On as you consider policies designed to help parents of Young Children, i urge you to keep the following principles in mind. First, American Families want choices. Not a one size fits all government regime. The promise of todays hearing is that there is a crisis making sweeping intervention necessary. Yet reality is different. Many parents absolutely do face significant challenges whether to accessing affordable childcare. There are many leader also satisfied with the existing arrangements. In fact, in 2021, it Bipartisan Public Policy Center survey found that two thirds of single parent, and to working parent households were using what they considered their i deal childcare arrangements. That is important because well policy makers should seek help those in, need we also dont want to disrupt the situation for those for whom their situation is working. Critically, surveys also suggest that most parents do not perform formal daycare settings. A 2022 report of the Bipartisan Policy Center fans and really six in ten parents preferred informal childcare over formal Childcare Centers. That is even formal childcare that was free and in a convenience location. Most parents in america simply think that having family or family like care is best for children. Secondly, dont make childcare in preschools operates like our k12 Public School system. At the height of the covid pandemic, according to the department of health and Human Services, about 60 of Childcare Centers were closed. But by the end of 2020, in the end of 2020, an estimated 73 of Childcare Centers had opens. In a contrast, at the end of 2020, only about one third of k12 Public Schools or providing fully inperson services. Private schools had largely open but most Public Schools fought to stay closed for as long as possible. Public schools behave this way because they do not see parents as their customers. And while it would . Today their ability to pay the bills depends on pleasing government officials, not on serving families. And in, fact we should be warned that all the bottles we see over k12, today over curriculums and the use of parnas, sex, add masking policies. They will come to your local jury care and preschool if government becomes the primary funder and sets the rules for what constitutes an approved to take care provider. Parents should fight to keep this from becoming the situation for childcare and preschools. Thirdly, government officials can and should perform, pursue reforms to make day care more affordable and accessible. And you start policy makers at all levels of government so it should seek to illuminate where we galatians they are not directly related to safety and true equality. A study by the market isnt profoundly cost of care could be reduced by as much as 1900 dollars per child per year by eliminating regulations not directly related to quality of care. During covid, policy leaders around the country democrats as well as republicans led regulations to encourage the creation of additional daycare. Options policy makers should explore the consequences of this deregulation. And continue to illuminate regulations that dont make sense. Next, financially support families. Not to take care providers. And use the money wisely. Rather than shoveling more taxpayer money into government bureaucracies, policy makers ought to provide tax relief for parents or directors support to say parents so they can make the decisions that make sense for them. Importantly, policy makers are not paid Financial Support conditional on childcare arrangements. Incentivizing leaves a page childcare is not fair to the families that have loved ones, parents are grandparents and neighbors, who provide loving care for children in their lives for free. Well foregoing play paid employment. Having family members like grandparents as caregivers as good for kids, as well as for the grandparents. We should not effectively discourage or crowd out these relationships by incentivizing only paid child care. And finally, government approved a care is not necessarily good for. Kids the government funding for childcare is often sold as a surefire way to improve life outcomes for children, particularly from low income families. However, the evidence simply does not bear this. Alex congressionally mandated studies have failed to show lasting benefits for president s. A recent study in tennessee reveal that they had walked the negative effect on childrens achievements of behaviors. This does not mean that there are no studies that will find benefits associated with preschool, nor does it mean that daycare and childcare are necessarily an Important Service for millions of parents and families. But it sure caught caution policymakers away from pushing all students into government appears Childcare Centers. Since that could do more harm than good. Thank you. Senator thank you very much, miss lukas. Senator cassidy . Im sorry. We also welcome miss kathryn larin. Larin. Director of the Education Workforce and security team. Miss larin overseass work on a variety of services, including childcare, child welfare, and economic assistance programs. Today miss larin will speak with the data shows about how states is supplemental childcare funding, and have complete out on the way the states you see funding will not be available for the few years. Her testimony will detail the challenges states experience managing more federal funding and then they have ever received. And difficulties getting the money to produce quickly. We look forward to miss larins testimony. What we can say definitively about how states use their supplemental pandemic in childcare funding. Thank you. Good morning, chairman sanders, Ranking Member cassidy, and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting here today to discuss g a os work on pandemic relating funding for childcare. The federal government has a long invested in childcare is a key support for workers, to help them become self sufficient. During the, Pandemic Congress appropriated more than 52 billion dollars in supplemental funding. Including to the child care and development fun. The nations key federal program for subsidizing childcare. This was to help stabilize the sector, and ensure that some families of access to childcare. I just knew today will address two items, has states use funds and flexibility, and passing continuing that states face in spending these funds. First regarding the spending of supplemental funds, as of 2023, states will spend approximately 34 of the 52. 5 billion dollars in supplemental funding that congress appropriated. The majority of the unspent funds, 11. 7 billion dollars will provide for the American Rescue plan, in states have until september 2024 to spend them. The rest must be spent by the end of this fiscal year, september 2023. According to one survey that we conducted in 2020, and interviews we have had with state officials since than, states use supplemental funds for various purposes. Including to provide childcare to essential workers, and to support Childcare Centers experiencing temporary closures in decreased in romans. States have also taken advantage of new flexibility offered through this supplemental funding. For example by changing the way they pay providers or by waiving or reducing family copayments. There is some evidence that funds will help accomplish what they were meant to do. Stabilize the childCare Industry. Generous absence policies, and paying providers based on enrollment rather than attendance, keeping some providers open when enrollments was lower fluctuating. More providers joint state, programs providing them with a reliable source of income during volatile times, and allowing them to stay open. , and after an initial steep decline, employment in the trial here sector has steadily increased, though it is not yet rebounded to prepandemic levels. However, given the time states have to spend the remaining funds, and significant lag in reporting of data, a full accounting of how all the pandemic funds are being spent will likely not be available until 2025 or 2026. Turning now to challenges states face and spending the funds. We interviewed child state childcare officials in seven states, in the fall of 2022, and they said they face both short term and long term challenges and out in their subsidy programs to use the supplemental funding. In some cases before federal guidance was available. The face challenges moving quickly after receiving the money. They were tasked with managing the increase in funding in a compressed time frame. And some states money challenging to best need faith meet family in providers. Needs in addition, states told us they had to think strategically about how to manage funds, given their timelimited nature. Some decide to spend money on one time i items rather than addressing longstanding challenges. For example, investing in i. T. Systems or training or offering one time signing bonuses to new employees. Rather than raising this staff wages, or substantially expanding enrollment. Other states implemented changes they would like to sustain, but they expressed uncertainty about future funding levels and their impact on their programs, reverting to prepandemic eligibility and provide payment policies. So anticipate that having to expel families from the program, when the funding expires. In some, the supplemental trial here funding applied to the fund and grants during the pandemic provide critical support to providers and families in need of care. A full accounting of the funds, how theyre being, used and their full impact will not be available until the next few years. This concludes my statement. Im happy to answer any questions. Thank you very. Much let me begin the questioning. Let me start off with mrs. Groginsky. I dont have a lot of, time please answer. Briefly mexico is not the most progressive state in the. Country it is not the most conservative state in the country. You have kind of revolutionized the way you do childcare in that state. How do the people in mexico feel about that . Thank, you chairman centers. Closer to the, mike please. They are thrilled. I traveled the state. I talked to. Families are talked to providers and educators. Everybody feels more valued and respected. So, once the governor and has done and what you has done is popular in the state. People feel good about it . Absolutely. So let me ask you. You, an expert on children in this country. First off, how do we compare, in terms of our childcare, with other countries . And second of, all in your judgment, given the fact that psychologist tell us zero through four is the most important year for intellectual and Emotional Development, how do we treat our kids in general . Thank you for the question. I think it is a really important to know that the u. S. Does not stack up well compared to other countries have chosen to do, given, interestingly, research and information that they based on what as happened in the u. S. They know from what we have done, the promise that exist in Early Childhood education learning. They have taken out and made the investments are necessary across child care, of course. But also paid leave in the other ways in which we are able to invest in support for children and families that are needed. Okay. Miss morman, we have heard a lot of discussion today. There is one simple fact driving tells us all the as much as we need to know. You mentioned that you were paid workers in your facility, which i gather is not a government run one size fits all, it is a small private operation that you have. 11, families is that right . Yes, sir. You mention you pay workers in virginia 12 an hour. Yes, sir. And i know that you do, it that is the best you can do. You are struggling to stay in existence. Just in general, and i applaud you for maintaining your facility. For providing childcare. But would you agree that we have, to as a nation, do better . Then pay people less than what they make at mcdonalds or almost any other profession if there . Yes, sir, i would. As i mentioned in my testimony. I am enrolled in a virginia childcare subsidy program. But i have vacant slots that cannot fill because i need to hire an additional staff person. I recently interviewed, as i stated, a young lady. And i share the pay. And she declined. So, hiring an additional person would have given us the ability to care for more children and be more flexible with the hours. Currently, as it stands, if either of us, me and my other staff person, if we are sick or have a family emergency, then i must close my facility for that time period, or reimburse parents for the day. If they are unable to find alternate care for the day that was not scheduled, not the schedule day in advance. Thank you, let me get back to madam secretary here. What have you been able to do therese pay in a new mexico in attract more qualified purpose . What weve been able to do is we race everybodys wages 3 an hour. Who worked in childcare. Provider salted and they wanted to do that. Weve also set our childcare reimbursements at the true cost of care using the costs estimation model. Providers are able to attract and people now 16 an hour, 17 an hour were valuing and respecting again families and educators and families have more choice. Families have more choice both because they have we have Family Childcare. We have faithbased. We have language immersion programs. The idea one size fits all is not what youre doing in new mexico. If theyre all private businesses, nonprofit, for profit, faithbased. There is lots of options for families. Its important we invest in all of those options. Mr. Hogan, if in vermont, it cost 15,000 a year. What impact does that have on the Financial Way billing can families afforded many cases middle class working fast for childcare. Vermonts doing great work to address comprehensively Early Childhood education. The realities of families cant as we know, families cannot afford it. At the problem is that we policymakers asked parents to cover this cost of their own pockets. We ask educators to subsidize the cost of their own wages. Because the way the market is structured, it doesnt work because the benefits go so far beyond of these individuals. Let me interrupt you and asking my last question. Why is childcare so expensive . Its a great question. Its something every parent with kids looking for childcare asks. The reality is that it does require a bit of understanding about the market. It is a labor intensive market. It should be. This is about driving safety and consistency and quality. Programs regularly spent up to 85 of costs and personnel that have these in place. Its important to remember that the goal you dont have one worker for 30 or 40 kids. You have to have those in place in order for safety. And for driving quality. We can talk more about some of those pieces. Senator cassidy. I shelled throw to senator tom prevail. Senator cassidy. He thank you to our witnesses for being here. Childcare is important. Its a personal decision for working families. Been there, done that. Most of us have. It is expensive. We got a real problems with the way the federal governments funds our childcare program. Its pretty interesting to me were doing this right now when we are having problems with our debt. That being said. We must remember that childcare is run by the states. Not the federal government. Thats the way it should be. If my colleagues here get their way, child care facilities would only be eligible for all this new money only if they play by federal rules. Do we want that . Really think about that. That means that the federal government will control the curriculum. Require childcare workers to have fouryear degrees. Pray south the middle class. Miss lucas. Would imposing a four year degree requirement on childcare employees what would it do to the labor market . I think weve seen that in washington d. C. Where theyve moved in the direction of making these requirements. It would make it much more expensive. As a parent, i think its misguided because as we all know when youre looking for care for year youngest kids. Whats your focus on is having somebody who is loving, caring, patient and having a four year degree is certainly not a necessary requirement in that. Doesnt push up costs. What would it do to our religious providers. And our private providers. I think that something we should be concerned about. I think its great when you have state based programs that are basically providing families with vouchers. So they can make those choices. More than half of our my understanding is more than half of all daycare slots are faithbased. We need to make sure of that. I worry when i was looking at the proposals for build back better. And the childcare provisions in there. That it could there was a threat there could be things inconsistent with faith based care. I think that something we should all make sure is protected. That is really important. The environment parents want to be able to have an environment that they think is supportive of their children. Mr. Martin . Do you have anything to add to that. About faithbased . Law really. Or centrally would be putting our children into Public Schools from three years old and up. Is that what were talking about here . I worry about that. I think that sometimes the model if we focus on a model like expanding k through 12 education. That could be really problematic. I think covid told us some of the problems. Weve had a lot of conversation about curriculum policies. But also things like adjusting open or masking policies. I think its worth noting people often talk much about head start. That is the federal government spends more than ten billion dollars. About 10,000 a year. Head start has a lot of problems. Its got a waste fraud and abuse problems. Its very expensive per hour. It provides less hours per care than the most other providers. Head start kids were among those four store masks. The longer than just about anybody else. Long after we realize that adults have been able to take our masks off. We were learning that masks were not u. S. Not doing any good for kids in schools but they were actually harming them. I worry about some of these providers or these institutions becoming political footballs. What would it spinning this kind of money due to our Financial System . Thats an easier question. Could you repeat the question . What would you spending this type of money. All this money. What would you do to our Financial System . I cant answer a question about the Financial System. Im sorry. What i can say is that historically we have invested about 8 to 10 billion dollars a year in childcare. The 52. 5 billion dollars that was appropriated during the pandemic was really unprecedented. That is for the reason that states face challenges and spending that money. Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you senator casey. Thank you for this hearing. I want to start with Elizabeth Groginsky and ask about your experience in new mexico. As a predicate for the question. I represent a state that has 67 counties in pennsylvania. 40 rural counties. These childcare challenges that weve heard so much about today. Have heard for a long time. More persistent throughout every county in the state no matter what the population base of the county. The childcare stabilization grants which came through the American Rescue plan were used by every type of Child Care Provider. Our state to receive less than 729 million. That represents more than 6800 childcare programs that affected 365,500 children in our state. A huge impact that that one initiative provider to the American Rescue plan. We know that. The shortage that weve talked about is particularly severe for children with disabilities and families to live in those areas. How have the stabilization grants been used to support childcare providers in rural areas. Thats the first for the question. The second is what is at stake for these communities when the funding ends in september . Thank you senator casey. We were able to distribute almost as i said 100 and 60 million. Much of new mexico is also very rural. And addition to the stabilization grants. As a, said it not only stabilized but strengthened of so many of the Family Childcare center based. Programs all over the state. We have been able to use administrative dollars from stabilization to build supply. Small village were working with the mayor. People in his community to build childcare. Its critical that we not only continue to make investments and childcare. But we look at ways to build the brick and mortar. The capacity in Rural Communities and all across our states to make childcare more available. What to this issue apparent voice. Thats whats going to make it thrive. These are all voluntary programs. Families are coming to us saying help us. Were seeing Family Childcare. Center based care in home care grandparents we can help people build their own childcare businesses. Its been a big help we need to continue those investments. Thanks. I am astounded at the fundamental nature of these investments for these senators in our state. We are told that adjust in pennsylvania just for Childcare Centers. Theyre receiving more than 142,000 per center. Here is what theyre using it for. Personnel costs. Fundamental in the pandemic and throughout the last couple years. Using the dollars for rent and mortgage. That sometimes applies to more the family care centers. Of which we have thousands in our state. It is critically important we have a response. We cant just report hansen say the funding is over. Washington has no response to that at all. We gotta have a response. And the remaining time i have, ms. Haugen, i was gonna ask you about legislation shes the lead on this bill. The child care for working families act. Ive been blessed to have the opportunity to be a cold lead on that legislation led by senator murray. I wanted to ask you how would that legislation provide comprehensive solution to childcare needs. Including by lowering costs for families increasing access to care. Addressing early educator work shortages. Senator, thank you so much for the question. It really is the response of comprehensive strategy. There is a couple of things i would raise. It addresses the entire system. It does sort of really center this federal state partnership. I think thats one of the things we talked about when you talk about the importance of centering good things that happened at states. We know from early funding it recognizes and pays for the true cost of care. Which we talk about as being incredibly important to balancing all these pieces. Caps costs for working cam fleas ensures the families have free expand childcare and prek and head start. It provides grants which again as we know they work to improve quality and supply. Thanks very much, its okay to repeat that. If senator murray ask you about it. Senator cassidy. I defer to senator mullen. Thank you, senator. Thank you for our panelists for being here. Im gonna address the question real quick about why is it so expensive. 14 years ago, my wife and i wanted to provide health care for employees. It was gonna be a benefit because we were having a lot of employees must work because they couldnt find Childhood Health care. We went through the process of trying to set it up. It was crazy how expensive it was. Then outside of that, the liability that is brought to our company honestly outweighed the benefit of it. Because of how much regulations that we pour on these Early Child Development center is preschool. It makes it almost cost prohibitive. If we really want to fix cost, we should start looking at ourselves and seeing a way that we can soften the men regulations and keep our kids safe. Let me get to the point of my questions and make a point here. Were trying to federalize our Education System to me it sounds like were trying to move more toward socialism. When you federalizing Education System, your standardizing what youre gonna be teaching orchids and taking the parents out of the ability to have a say in it. I had a lot of concerns about it. Its still baffles me the chairman of our committee helped education im gonna put it big help education labor and pitching committee. That was appointed by our Senate Democrats is a self proclaimed socialist. Im not just calling him that. Chairman, you openly say that you are a socialist. In your book, outsider in the house, the chairman says bill clinton is a moderate democrat. Im a democrat socialist. Thats over our Education System. I have a book here in front of me called our skin that has been endorsed by an ac. Im going to read exactly what this book says. You guys might find it interesting. A long time ago, way before you are born, a group of white people made up an idea called race. The sordid people by skin color and said that white people were better smarter prettier and they deserve more than everybody else. This would be taught if we socialize our prek. This would be do you disagree with the findings in the book . 1000 percent. How about we teach jesus loves me. How about this . Teaching jesus loves the little children. Red and yellow black and way theyre all precious in our sight. Which one would you think would be better. All ask everybody around the panel. Which is better to teach . This or a story. That was made up to teach our kids. Threeyearolds who had no idea what race is. All of a sudden is being taught that white people said this as a truth. Someone pointed me that this being a truth. That white people developed race. That white people developed that. That all of a sudden that was our word that we developed. By the way, i am cherokee. Native american. I think we have experienced a little racism before my life chairman. Senator i ask everybody on the panel. Which one is better to teach. This or the jesus loves me lyrics. Maam, allstar down here. Ill tell you senator mullen is that children in these early years its important is im just asking which one is better. Let her answer the question. My question is this. Which one is better . Which one is better . This its important childrens identities are recognized. Thats what creates strong executive function. Lets move on down the panel. Which one is better to be taught. This book or the jesus loves me lyrics. That says everybodys skin doesnt matter. Theyre all precious in the site. I think its important that all children are seen and valued for who they are and thats dont you think that other people will sourcing that white kids are to blame . Thats exactly what theyre gonna teach. Its exactly what it is. I disagree. First, it is important that we tease jesus. Jesus is what we teach. The re could she answer the question please . Im asking the question which one is better. That is exactly what it is. Got it on tape . What im saying is which one is which. Which one is better to be taught, mister chairman. Is it this or is it the csis it is your question or to me or mid its his question, he gets the dictate. Ask the question. Which one . As i stated, jesus is always first. Let me and with this because i still have more time because of chairman kept interrupting me. Im gonna closer to quotes. The first is from john adams. Says morality and virtue are the foundation of a republic and necessary for society to be free. Knee second one is from our socialist communist joseph stolen. That says education is the weapon whose defective depends on who hands. It is in and whom it is aimed. We got to be careful what were trying to do here. With that idea. Back thank you, mister chairman. Thank you to all of our witnesses for appearing today. From the high cost of care to persistent and widespread shortages of care. The lack of access to affordable childcare is straining the finances of families in every corner of my state. I also hear from wisconsin Business Owners who report that access to childcare remains a primary barrier to hiring and retaining the employees that they need. I think wisconsin has done well at a using federal investments to connect businesses with childcare needed for their workers. Im glad to have the opportunity to share a little bit of that story at todays hearing. I am concerned about the ability of families and businesses in wisconsin to continue to utilize these types of partnerships when the available funding runs out. Im also really concerned about our ability to provide meaningful investment to address the childcare crisis under the constraints of the debt limit deal that is being debated right now in the house. Ultimately come to the senate. Miss hogan, wisconsin use federal dollars from our covid19 response to create an Innovative Program that helps businesses purchase childcare slots for the benefit of their employees. This program called the partner of the program has also pioneered an innovative true cost of care model which i know has been referred to already. That allows participating childcare providers to be paid what it actually costs to provide care to children. Making it an Attractive Program for businesses and childcare programs alike. I am concerned as i said when the federal dollars run out that Innovative Programs like this both in wisconsin and a nationwide will end. Tell me are we hatteras right now of losing the momentum of addressing the childcare crisis if we fail to make up for the shortfall. What do you see. The short answer is yes. Though we trust the parents of businesses who really need this investment will continue to push for the investments that are needed. There is unfortunate that the funding is ending because it is what she described as such a great example of how a federal state business Parent Partnership can really work. There are examples of great examples these pieces come together to really meet the needs. And proved the point of what happens when the federal govern makes these investments and states can respond to those needs in ways that are responsive to whats happening on the ground. I have a question for you, miss mormon. As you well know Family Childcare providers provide indispensable services to families across the country. Im concerned about the fact that my state wisconsin lost nearly 25 of its Family Childcare providers in recent years. Thats a dramatic drop. Ive heard from wisconsinites about of the initial cost to become license. It can be very daunting for wouldbe family care providers. At the same time auto families and childcare providers share a strong interest that these homes meet rigorous care and safety standards. Start of grants like those that were included in the child care for working families act really helped Family Childcare providers to meet a licensing standards and offset these initial costs without sacrificing safety or quality. In your role as the head of an association of in Family Childcare. I ask you to talk about the importance of the start of grants. Im trying to think of an example that everyone can relate to. Say you want to get in the business but you dont have a fence around your backyard. And the children are gonna be playing out there that costs of putting in the fence. What you need for safety might be daunting in terms of overcoming that and making something work. Tell me a bit about the start of france. In addition of course to reasonable reimbursement rates to help recruit and retain more Family Childcare providers. Yes maam. More children spent time in a home base childcare settings than any other child care setting. Family childcare educators disproportionately care for infants and toddlers and children from low income families families of color as well as families living in Rural Communities therefore it is critical to ensuring home base childcare providers have access to higher reimbursement rates and resources to start of childcare programs to meet Health Safety and quality standards when i started my program i had to make modifications to my home. And purchase furniture and materials for the childcare program. I use my savings since they did not have income from childcare. Steps to reduce barriers to licensing include providing startups grants and providing Technical Assistance from trusted advisers and coaches on topics like stages of child development. Implementing a curriculum running a childcare business. Family childcare providers also face housing insecurity at an alarming rate according to a standard rapid survey over one quarter of home base providers were worried about being evicted from their homes. Time is expired. Thank you very much. Thank you. Senator cassidy . I defer to senator murkowski. Thank you mister chairman. Thank, you Ranking Member. Im glad were talking about childcare here this morning. I dont view chilled care as a threat to me as a parent. About whether or not we are losing our values. As a parent i want to know whats going on in my child care facility. I want to know whats going on my kids school. I think thats incumbent upon me as a parent then to actively engage in that. I want to have some choices. I want to have some options. In my state right now is 61 . 61 of alaskans live in what they call a childcare desert. They have nothing. When we are looking for workers from everything from a slope workers to teachers to doctors. Im having workforce issues in other spaces because we dont have access to childcare. Community the terminus of the alaskan pipeline. Got a great little hospital there. Trying to get some providers. They got some nurses lined up to come. They find out at the omalley licensed childcare facility in all of has closed down and there is no plan for it. The coast guard says if we dont have childcare there. We are not so sure about the viability of valdese. As the coast guard community. Childcare is not only a workforce issue its a military readiness issue. I had a sit down with the head of our child childcare coalitions. I brought in the base commander from base elmendorfrichardson. Because hes telling me that the number one challenge hes got right now when it comes to readiness is the availability of childcare. We talked about is it what childcare providers are being paid . We found out that in the military at least on jay bare they got flexibility to pay their Child Care Provider is more and they still cant get the people that they needed. I asked a simple question. What more can we do if its not the pay what is it. I was told until you allow childcare providers to think that this is a career. And not just a job where im gonna go get a minimum wage. And then hopefully im gonna get Something Better from there. Our reality is childcare is an imperative. In so many of our Community Needs our states and weve got to do more to address it. This weekend in our states largest newspaper, article about childcare in alaska. 250 people on the waitlist in a facility in palmer. At the childcare facility just up the road from where i used to live there in anchorage. What children. What families are being charged for want to kid. 1700 dollars. You tell me how a family. Teacher and a firefighter is finding 1700 dollars for their want to kid. Its not only childcare deserts its the issue of affordability im told that on average in alaska families pay 982 per month for childcare. But again that varies im looking at this. I am saying there is a role here for us. Last congress senator tim scott introduced the Childcare Development block grant reauthorization. I cosponsored that because they thought it was a good way to actually help assist childcare providers. And families in their ability to be able to choose childcare without us here at the federal government micromanaging things. Senator murray has a different approach to it. Im looking at this and suggesting that we have a role here we have a role perhaps might not have ever envisioned that at the federal level it was incumbent upon us to weigh in here when it comes to childcare and access to childcare. But it is impacting our military security. It is impacting our economic security. When you cannot get people to be able to return to work because there is no child care for them. If anybody wants to comment on senator scott we authorization of the Childcare Development block rant. Im happy to hear that because ive taken my full five minutes. Go ahead, somebody. Miss hogan, your picked on. What i so much wonderful to hear you talk about the role. I want you to appreciate these opportunities of bipartisan agreement to build on what weve already done to ensure that their child who had access. One of which of what you talked about in terms of this really being a minimum wage job. The compensation needs to be come unsure it with their incredible skills and values to go into this. This is a difficult job. Senator from oklahoma this question of regulations when we make a we make it harder for Early Childhood education do their job. When we reduced ratios and we reduce sizes. One of the things we need to talk about only do that as we make it harder to recruit and retain Early Childhood educators. We actually reduce the supply. Then what were trying to do is increase. It that comes back to this question the ways in which compensation really matters most. If we dont fix that, iran keeps struggling with this challenge. Thank, you mister chairman. Senator king. Thank, you chairman, thanks to the witnesses. I think there is a consensus, not a consensus that weve got to do something about this. A lot of debate about whats the right way to do it. The reality in virginia i am a parent of three kids. One is an Early Childhood educator in a private prek program. A longstanding pro keep program in minneapolis. A travel around the state. Talk to people at military bases. Rural flight county. Metropolitan hampton roads. Whether im in a rural part of virginia. Really metropolitan pretty. Virginia the same story over an over again. We cant pay our folks what they are worth. If we did pay them what they were worth, a whole lot of our parents could not afford it. From parents i cant find affordable childcare. Id like to be in the workforce but im not because of the inability to find a high quality affordable childcare. At the same time as our Unemployment Rate is the lowest its been in 60 years. Every employer in the state is telling you we cant hire people. We have got a massive reserve army of super talented people who would like to be in the workforce. They served enough for one reason. They cant find my quality affordable childcare. Miss mormon, my kids in richmond did Early Childhood experience some home based Family Childcare. Some in virginia preschool initiative. Two programs in Church Basements that were church front programs. I support all of it. I supported it when i was governor. I guess you wouldnt be here today with us if you thought what we were trying to do was dictate a one size fits all stalin like government run a program. You wouldnt come and testify to committee if that was what was up. You were talking about the value of the funding that he received during covid. The first set of funding was part of the cares act which was bipartisan and democrats and republicans together said. We better help a Child Care Providers during this tough time. Then we did more in the American Rescue plan. That was just democratic votes. Only democratic votes. In the American Rescue plan we do childcare. We did not exclude family based care. We didnt exclude family based care run by faith filled people. We said we need you. We want to support you. The proposal that senator murray and i have is to do. That its not to do a one size fits. All its to have a program that would support high quality. High quality is deliberately different ways. Including programs just like yours. You were candid. I want to dig in a little more because i thought you were candid on the salary issue. You are paying 12 bucks. The state says you can get Additional Resources training if you can go to 17 if you want to 17 how would that affect the parents who had come into you . If i want to 17 i would have to increase my rates a number of your parents families couldnt afford it. This is the gap im hearing everywhere. My familys struggle to afford this my providers are worth a lot more than i pay. If i pay them that in families would be in a jam. You wouldnt be able to provide services. Thats the gap that i think we have to find an answer for. I appreciate you stating it so clearly in terms of how it affects you i hear this all over the place i want to thank you as im continuing this work that you did during covid to call all of these Child Care Providers in the family settings to say if you are running a Daycare Center that had 50 60 70 kids you might be more aware these resources out there. The place for my son went first for kids there and Marie Williams that i wouldve known about federal funding available to help through this tough time what is you learn as you are reaching out to these 400 providers during this tough time that you might want to share with us the money was crucial it helped them to continue to be able to operate. And serve the children that they had in care. Without those phone calls providers wouldve lost out because it was a deadline. There were no extensions you had to act and you had to act within and many providers were not aware because they were working they didnt have time to check emails for to see what was going on they were working caring for the children that were in care. Just to put an excellent point on the value the work that you did. This was during a time where because early phase of covid we dont exactly know you are having to grapple with social distancing issues that you might not have thought about it. Three year olds are the greatest social distance source in the world second what you probably had a whole lot of parents who are facing issues of their jobs. Even as they were struggling to pay what you would charge them now through jobs orange empathy or businesses are closed and things like that. They had even more needs. You were able to not easily kind of stretch because of the federal assistance stretch the fabric over the holes in the karma to kind of keep plugging along. Thats what our assistance enabled you to do. Definitely without it and some providers did not make it. Because they werent able to continue financially they couldnt afford to continue to run their business. Thanks for being a resource for others. I yield back to the chair. Senator cassidy. I did freedom senator marshall. Thank you senator cassidy and chairman. Certainly agreed with everybody here that childcare is a significant problem. Its nothing in now flooded over to urban america. I think ive shared before that the toughest part of my members working 36hour shift as a resident. My wife the nurse working 12 hour shifts with two preschool kids. Running a hospital running a medical practice childcare was always a major issue of course for nurses. Big roundtable at kansas to university. Three or four years ago trying to bring in the best minds and what we could do and not do beyond that i think i did a dozen around tables this last week. Every one of those round tables urban and Rural America and this issue was brought up. I think its interesting as each community has their own way to solve it. Its so hard for me to sit here and say this is one size thats going to work for everybody. Even just hearing everybodys ideas up here is next to impossible to figure out what would work best. Probably the best solution ive seen is slighting kansas took their ymca that a coop there. They had a underutilized resource during the day. And different businesses were gonna pay for a share seven spots ten spots where they use them or not when youre running this coopt you would have a fixed income that it was a very unique idea i want to talk about 45 tax credit though. I hope some of you are familiar with this. I think its an opportunity for Small Businesses but its very tight when you can use it for and not use it for by expanding the 45 tax credit i think it gives more flexibility to those people. Those Small Businesses. Miss lucas are familiar with the 35 . Im sorry to say. Are you familiar with it . We looked at the use of childcare tax credit by employers of years ago when we found that take a break was very low. And there are number reasons for that a low. I think for one thing its. Employers dont earn aware of the tax credit and it remains very expensive to provide childcare to employees. It is an option thats available to employers that are underutilized. What would you do to expanded to make it more user friendly . Any thoughts . We didnt make any recommendations around that when we did the work. We were looking at the use of the credit and challenges to using it. Anybody else in the family all familiar with it . Thank you. I yield back. Thank you, senator smith. Thank you very much share sanders thanks to all of you for being here today. Ive been listening to this conversation and im struck with a thing about the sounds a good home in minnesota at home in minnesota i can tell you that childcare access and affordability is a huge issue. Its not just an issue in the blue parts of the state. Its an issue everywhere. In fact i think most minnesota known see this as a political issue at all in a small towns in rural places i hear from farmers and Small Business people and mayors and parents that child care is now working for them. Thats what we all been talking about. I think senator cain said there is understanding of that issue. I think the question is what we do about it . I want to focus first on what we have done about it. I want to dispel any myths that might exist about whether or not in the work that congress did. Congress took action to shore up the child care system. It was collapsing if we hadnt done that my understanding from talking to people in minnesota is that this teetering on the edge of a cliff childcare system would be off the cliff. Wed be in a much different situation. Thats what im hearing at home. Just to give you an example. 96 of childcare providers in minnesota said there were receiving the grant was helpful and keeping the program open and operating. 81 of people said that it was a very helpful majority so that the help interpret it made a difference. It made a real difference. 8000 childcare providers were able to keep their businesses afloat. I can tell you i think this is probably pretty similar around the country. And rural parts of the state. That is more often than not Family Childcare providers. Who are most at risk of having to close up. Because of the situation. Let me just go first to you miss morgans key talking about what do you see the new mexico. Your home state has been very effective in utilizing the childcare stabilization grants. Could you talk a bit more about how you were able to use those dollars to shore up the position in new mexico providers and families for a better system. Thank you senator smith. We put together a formula that made sure that we based it on a license capacity. We also wanted to incentivize infant to toddler care and Higher Quality care and give more to center some Family Childcare homes located in what we call high Vulnerability Index communities. We acted quickly with that. We similarly as a state we called every provider to make sure they knew about the opportunity. We thought that was important especially in our communities Broadband Access is very limited. We know that phone calls Text Messages were gonna be critical. I feel good we reached almost all of our providers. We directly talk to them and they knew that the money was available use it in your testimony that flexibility was so important because if you agree as i do that one size does not fit all. That means individuals providers are gonna have different needs. Some family for fighters in the midst of that pandemic needed to make some physical improvements to their space. So they were able to stay open. Ability for individuals to be will to make their own decisions without the federal government saying you must do this. They were able to make choices about how they spent it with a list most people did invest in salaries data things like improve their Outdoor Learning environments they made things more safe and healthy. They put filters in their houses or in their Childcare Centers. Overall they were much stronger by the stabilization. This continues through benefits even though the fundamental market failure. I said we have a market failure here. The supply and demand how much it costs and how much. People are able to pay is completely mismatch. Those are essentially the problems that we are working to solve that senator murray and ian others and senator warren and i have been working to try to resolve. Not basing you must of a child care system that is exactly this way. By putting power in the hands of parents. To make decisions about what that looks like. Im about to run out of time with so im going to switch gears. I want to ask miss more minutes something i think its really important for the company davener minds. This is in part of the jurisdiction of this committee. Senator sanders, really important. During the pandemic the department of agriculture issued a waiver that allowed us to extend flexibility to provide through the child and Adult Care Food Program. Home base providers could be reimbursed for the food that they provided and their system. Miss mormon could she do i know your home base provider. Could you talk briefly. That program is going to expire if we dont take action. Could you talk briefly about what your experiences were without program and whether you think there is things we should keep in mind as we look at whether it can be extended. Yes maam. I tore some paid in the childcare. Child in Adult Care Food Program which is an important program. Source of funding for Childcare Community major reforms are needed. Depending on where Family Childcare educators live or their own income. Were assigned to a tear. Tier one or two or two. Dear to the already partial reimbursement rate is about half of the rate for tier one hearing only applies to Family Childcare. It does not apply to centers or head start programs. In the 20 years since tearing was introduced the number of Family Childcare homes participating in the cia has decreased by 46 . Thanks to congressional leadership when the pandemic struck the usda had the flexibility to temporarily move all Family Childcare programs to a tier one. We also received an additional. Ten cents per meal or snack reimbursement. This was a lifeline as bills and childcare programs are vital sources of nutrition for children. Children my program for 10 to 14 hours per day. I served two meals and one snack and a dinner for children who stay longer. I share your concern about the end of the waiver which expires june 30th. The cost of food has increased significantly. This eac reimbursement only partially covers the cost of food. Leaving us to regularly pay out of pocket to feed children. I know ive gone over time. Appreciate you bringing attention to that. Thank you mister chair. Im sorry to have to interrupt to. You its their fault. I asked a question that i knew was gonna take more than time. Senator cassidy. I defer to senator bud. Thank you senator cassidy. Thank you chair. I think the Panel Witnesses for being here today. Im of the belief that parent should be empowered to make the best decisions for their families and childcare needs. There really shouldnt be a one size fits all solution. Im concerned that proposals for my colleagues across the aisle from the democrats on this committee would stifle Parental Choice by sweeping government intervention. To essentially take childcare system in our country. Miss lucas can you go into more detail about something that you and senator tuberville chatted about earlier. Can you want more detail on why childcare should not function like a k12 school. Theres so many reasons. I think when you look at the youngest kids we know that they have a special needs they need loving care there. People have a variety of different preferences. Many parents want home based care. Something thats more loving and environment reflects their values. As we move more towards basically just extending down our k12 Public Schools. Were gonna lose a lot of that. Especially as weve seen with a k12 Public Schools. All this controversy and parents waking up during covid. To recognizing what was being taught is and what they wanted to be taught the. Tremendous lack of learning thats taken place in k12 rising violence in k12 education. Theres a lot to be concerned with School Closures theres a lot of failures and covid i think brought people to question whats going on in our k12 Public Schools. Thank you. How can policymakers support parents who prefer to have one parent an accident remember stay home with the child. I think were talking about this, theyre some great things are going on at the state level. I think that should give us humility. Why does this money to pass with the federal government rather than having states and act their own programs. A lot of states are doing great work in an acting very interesting programs. To help those who need childcare. Without making it harder to people to keep apparent at home. I do worry as we talk about all this money going to support one and kind of childcare arrangement. Lets fix what else to care for your child. That we are effectively discouraging or disincentivizing not only stay at home parents but grandparents. Other kind of committed to this relationships. I think we should be supporting parents through tax credits. Through tax deductions. Lower tax rates. Direct subsidies. Not making it conditional and paying somebody else to care for your kids. Thank you very much. I yield back. Senator has some. Thank you mister chair and Ranking Member cassidy for this hearing. Thanks to our witnesses for being here today. This is obviously a critical issue for all of us. For our constituents. For a familys most importantly for our kids. To miss hogan. I want to start with a question to you. Unfortunately many Young Children missed out on a formative years of learning and socializing with peers to the pandemic. A recent survey by the American Speech Language Hearing Association found that a large majority of speech language pathologists are reporting more Young Children who have delayed language or diagnose language disorders. And behavioral difficulties some of those students require professional Early Intervention services. But parents in Early Childhood such a caters have an Important Role to play here as well. Miss hogan what steps can we take to ensure that childcare staff received the training necessary to support the Healthy Development of Young Children and their learning recovery. Thank you so much for the question. Its fruit, we also are hearing that from Early Childhood educators every day that theyre seeing a lot of challenges that kids are bringing to bear. Making sure we talk about how difficult it is for families to access child care. This is particularly true for families who have children with disabilities. Families who need on traditional hours making sure that educators. It speaks to this question of the complexity in Early Learning. Making sure that Early Childhood educators have access to gaining those skills and competencies they need weve seen again estates going out of their way to make those investments. And apprenticeship scholarships and access to training and professional development that really supports Early Childhood educators understanding across all settings. Supporting our families. I really appreciate that. It is true. When you have a childhood needs either different approach or a more complex understanding of development. Its really important for Early Childhood educators get those supports in that training. Secretary groginsky, i want to ask you a question. Along with senator young, i introduced the bipartisan after our childcare act which would expand access to childcare for americans who work nontraditional hours. That third shift. Sometimes that second shift. A lack of access to childcare during these nontraditional hours hits families in rural areas especially hard. I know senator smith touched on this in a question. Secretary, how are you increasing access to childcare rural areas and for families with non traditional Work Schedules in your state . The ways were doing it is through all of these mechanisms. Making sure that were paying for the true cost of care. Expanding eligibility for families up to that 400 of poverty. Really investing in the workforce. We know that our childcare programs need to stay open longer. Especially in our Rural Communities. We have seen children die because their families did not have access to childcare. They had to leave their baby or their taller with somebody so they could go to work in one of those evening jobs. Investing in child care is about improving shuttling overall. All three things that were doing in new mexico are making a difference. Thank you for your work. Thank, you mister chair. Thats all i have. Thank you. Senator cassidy. Senator braun . Thank, you mister chairman. Ranking member. I like these discussions because i come from the real world before i got here. I actually try to fix these things. I remember the gentle memories of what our kids were raised. It just wasnt this complicated. We had plenty of local providers. Some of them i wonder how they made it through the day. With pandemonium that seem to be part of the process. Everything needs room for improvement. Were talking about putting more responsibility possibly on the shoulders of the federal government. One of the reasons iran is because if you are good at financing, the numbers. You kind of look a little into the future. I dont see a Good Business plan for this place to take on more responsibility. Im doing this is a problem solver. Not really doing it in a political way. Senator sanders i think he and i have been the loudest senators and reforming health care. Thats a broken system. That one aside once more government. We can sit or it may be okay. Its not okay when it costs that much. Child care, i visit all of our counties. Log has to do with workforce there. You want more people to come into the workforce. Youre gonna have to have childcare. It worked years ago, its just not working now. My thinking is unless you come up with real solutions, theyll generally get to this forum and then youre stuck with more topdown kind of bloated system that doesnt really look warm and fuzzy in terms of the finance part of it in the long term. My question is all start with myths groginsky, youve done something in a state. I think thats probably were a lot of the solutions are gonna get done. Sustainably and paid for overtime. Do you think this will be sunny and we consider here. On top of whatever weve been doing. Looks like were getting into financial chaos and dont know what weve been knocking it out of the park on. You seem to have results. Can this be done in the bailiwick of states as opposed to trying to find solutions here and where do you think it will be best done . Thank, you senator ron. I think we can the states cant do it without a significant federal investment. I think thats what we saw and a federal investment that had the flexibility that we need. Right there. You made a point there. Would you be willing to borrow the money from future generations to do it . Back home, in a business is, anything else, your finding out through the force of having to live within your means the solutions that really work. Would you really want more here or if were borrowing the money to do it . Thats what youd be saying along with wanting to help. Thank you, senator. Yes, absolutely. The benefits will pay off. The return on investment is clear. In new mexico, over 70 of the voters said we want to have a constitutional right to Early Childhood education. Overwhelmingly, i think nationwide is the same case. We need to make that a partnership between the state and federal and local so parents have the choice they need to go to work and invest in their childrens future and that will return to us in dividends that we cant even imagine. What thatll do is pylon to our 31 trillion in debt. Were wrestling with this right now between two sides that i dont think are really taking it seriously. One side wants it to 20 trillion out there and ten years more. That heavy load of interest, i can tell you, is not gonna be good for what he want more for the other things Social Security and medicare long term. I understand your opinion is that it wouldnt be the wherewithal. I do disagree with that. Losing as much hogan has said one point hundred and 22 billion in lost revenue right now. So that is something we need to think about when we make these anything were trying to make up lost revenue were borrowing the money to do it. Miss lauren, where are you at on this issue . Clearly, people come here because they want money for things. If we were doing it responsibly like you do everywhere else. It would be there. But hell be making tough decisions. Trading off what the best use of that money would be. Can a do this on their own and what do you think if they got a look here, are you willing to borrow the money to do it . I think you race an important point about states making decisions and the Current System the cc d. F program does allow states a fair amount of flexibility and how they use the funds. Thats part of the reason that we dont know how all of the current spending is being spent. We wont know that for a few years. Its because different states are doing Different Things for that money. I think that is important having the flexibility at the state level. Im sorry, i think i missed the other part. I think you made your point. I dont be gaveled by the chairman for going over my time. I will put this out there. Unless all of us as citizens, all of us that want to solve problems. If we dont start doing some of that, in ways that are resourceful and maybe from the bottom up. I do think were gonna run into issues of how we pay for it here overtime. Food for thought. Thank you. Thank you, senator lujan. Thank you, mister chairman. I want to come back to a point that sheriff sanders brought to our attention as well. That was on the inherent conflict that exists in childcare. One area i hope we all agree is that the wages that Early Childhood educators make is a very low. I hope that we take a moment to understand what the impact on the system is. On those kits. Some that may benefit that curriculum. That social those that wont. What that means into future years of prosperity and community and across the country. Whats incredible about this conflict is that it boils down to subsidy rates. Most states use market rates as was pointed out by our secretary earlier. To calculate their subsidy rate. Market rates report what providers are charging for childcare. Which is typically only what parents can afford. As was pointed out, artificially low. These low market rates keep wages low, revenue slow, supply low. New mexico became the first state in the nation along with d. C. To use these alternative methodologys to set rates. I appreciate that now secretary greg inskeep, what kinds of factors went into the new methodology . Thank you, senator lujan. Really importantly was how much are we gonna pay our Early Childhood staff. So we said a floor initially at 12 10. Weve now said that florida 15 an hour. Were also looking at things that state laws require. Like paid sick leave. We put that into it we put benefits. We make sure theres enough staffing so that educators have time out of the classroom to plan for their childrens learning and development. So all of those things are modeled into the cost model. And then we determine a rate. Determine what that costs and then based on a revenues and our sources we said a rate that will be comparable and competitive. Secretary, and using that methodology help to expand access for families, for kids . Senator, it did. We have seen that we now have almost 2000 more licensed capacity than prepandemic. And we know that it was through this right sitting there reading a cost model that has allowed providers to remains easier abstract staff and released after classrooms. New mexico was able to make childcare accessible for nearly all families by increasing income eligibility. Providing a path for these young people to be able to get access to this program, predominantly at no cost. I always appreciate when folks remark on our budgets, theyre a reflection of values. I hope more and more people value access to these programs for kids, because i can attest that getting access to these programs, i wouldnt be here if it wasnt for them. I think thats one show of success. When we measure access to these programs and what it means as well. When federal emergency funds are looking at this, there needs to be more flexibility in these programs, i appreciate everyone racing this year as well. Congress makes cc dvd funds more flexible by logging states to expand parity about 85 . We are not allowed to use funds for facilities, renovation, construction. Not just traces for families, but especially for the kids. These funds allowed for facility investments, so my question to you is, yes or no, should Congress Make the ccdbg funds more flexible by allowing facility renovation, and construction . Yes. As long as theres increased funding. Head start, prek, and childhood programs have a profound return on investment, this has been pointed out today. Secretary, based on what youve seen in new mexico, what is the return on investment for Early Childhood Education Programs . A few years ago, our legislative finance committee showed a study that showed that our prek Program Producer return, and we know now with these kinds of investments in childcare, were going to see similar returns across the system. So yes or no, what do you argue that the states return on investment for only child Education Programs has increased after these federal investments, creating new programs in new mexico. Absolutely. Thank you for that. I yield back. Thank you very much. Senator cassidy . Thank you will. Senator, he asked that i submit some articles to record on his behalf. He brought up something which is very uncomfortable, about how children were being judged by the color of their skin, at least implicitly. Not by the content of their character, and a couple of the things he was asked to submit shows that that was not a oneoff. And i just want to comment on this, ill be very quick. But its also introducing the young 1 to 4yearolds to the concept of transgenderism, with multiple things in there to promote this aspect. Miss haugen, this is your organization. It is your organization rim into those using this material that they informed the parents beforehand, the content of the material . I will just add that im not looking at what youre looking at, but our resources have been used by hundreds of thats not my question. I understand that, but my question is, do you recommend that the people using your materials tell the parents the content of the material that theyre 1 to 4 children will be using. The resources that are for Early Childhood educators to help ensure your kind of speaking past my question. Im going to have to assume theyre all done in partnership with families. So you do recommend that the parents are informed their child will be discussing transgenderism . We trust Early Childhood educators to partner with there is no formal recommendation. The reason i say that, and i can assume that because i dont mean to accuse, but youre k docking the answer. The reason i have raised that is that we start off he who pays the piper picks the tune. And we start off saying were going to have this program which, my gosh, we are going to have a statue. Faithbased organizations, mid brigand ski ive learned that once the federal government gets its financial hooks in, it begins dictating. A good example is the adoption agencies which they could make their own decisions, and now if youre a Catholic Agency you dont want to adopt out to a samesex couple, you get the wrath of the federal government. So that begins to evolve over time, and i think we have to recognize that trend. And i think that would give pause if we were going to make the federal role of financing so overweening. Ive never seen a witness better prepared the new. And i just want to compliment you off the bat. But one thing youve raised is that its hard for you to compete with a 17 dollar per hour wage. I hear the same thing for medicaid providers. I hear the same thing from hospitals. I hear the same thing from nursing homes. Frankly, i hear the same thing from fast food outlets. So if we specifically targeted childcare, so that everyone can pay 15, or 17, or whatever, inevitably you pull from all these other organizations. Is that fair to them . The need still does not change. The workers need childcare, childcare needs other educators. And we need each other. So together, weve got to do something. I accept that. But except my role, where i have the Home Health Agency on medicaid reimbursement, which is fixed. And the struggle that that owner has. And i think thats something for us to recognize here. A little bit of squeezing the tube of toothpaste. That was an excellent presentation, i enjoyed what you had to share. In some cases, you couldve had a child care facility that had no kids whatsoever, but because everybody was afraid to send their child. They still got a check, correct . Yeah. In the early days of the pandemic, that was the goal of these programs was to stabilize the industry and keep it from going out of business when there was no children. I think thats important to recognize, that this was a short term thing. The reason there was encouragement and permission of copayss were thinking that paint parents may lose their jobs. Because the pandemic shut everything down, we want them to be able to afford should they lose their job, or have to take a lower pay. I think its important to know the context of all this. And in my remaining seconds, you said something very good about allowing the dollar to follow the parent and the child. I will note, in new york state untold are 30,000 unfilled childcare slots. By the way, its been asserted several times that people cannot go to work because they cannot afford childcare. Thats actually an assertion, theres no doubt. It may be true, but there is no doubt on it. And the fact that new york has 30,000 i would take your child, i can take your child. You dont send your child to me, that suggested may be true. Any comment on that . I thought your comment was very good. I think that parents know best and they have a better sense of what options are. And theyre going to look for value that makes sense to them. When i look at the head start program, i notice how much more expensive each hour of head starts. This is the one federal directly managed to view on the federal program. And yet it costs almost, in some cases, significantly more per hour. I think to compared to some states, nearly twice as much. And the Obama Administration had actually looked at trying to loosen head start, so that parents could head start would be required to provide more. But i think will be better to give those parents more options. They dont have to go to head start, which provides relatively few hours. And instead, could take their business elsewhere to other providers, who will meet their needs, and the flexibility they need. Thank you. Senator murray . Thank you very much, mister chairman, for having this hearing. And for all of our panelists. We have a childcare crisis. We can skip around words and pretend the curriculum is the problem, or something else. We have a childcare crisis, and we actually childcare crisis before covid. It was a silent crisis, because parents did not talk about it. Because they were worried when they went to get a job, that if they said i dont want to do with my kids, they wouldnt get that job. But the pandemic actually opened up this conversation, and allowed us to see the reality in this country, where we arent taking childcare is a serious crisis. And we did make considerable investments at that time, with the American Rescue plan. And really have helped some of that stabilize. But we are about to it hasnt gone away, its gotten worse. And i will tell you, everywhere i go in my state, people talk about the fact that they do want to go get that job. But they cannot, because they are two hundredths on a waiting list. Or they say to me, yeah, there is a slot open. New york, but i cant afford it. Its half my salary. Or i will have to work parttime, which why am i working parttime . This doesnt make any sense. This childcare system doesnt make any sense. And to boil it down to a discussion about curriculum, or masks is ludicrous. We have a childcare crisis. And we need to deal with it as a country. And i will tell you, i am concerned that the stabilization funds that end in june are going to make it even worse. And that is the reality, we have to face it. And we need to decide what were going to do about it. And were going to have to decide what we do about the cost. Senator cain talked about it, there is a dilemma between raising your prices so that you can pay your child care workers, so you can open up more slots. But then parents cant afford it. Senator cain and i and others have introduced legislation, and it goes after that. So to diminish this to a conversation about government run, i want to put that to rest right now. And miss hogan, let me ask you. We keep hearing this, one size fits all. Government run. This is not how this works and thats never how it is going to work. I would like you to talk about how we put this together so that it is not a one size fits all, talk about the state federal partnership, and put this to rest for us. Yeah. I think federal funding is not a federal takeover. And all of the proposals built on what we know works, and they support flexibility, they support a trust to decide the curriculum, and supports that work for them. So these are real about whats happening on the ground. We know whats really happening on the ground, to your point, people cannot find or afford childcare and educators cannot stay in jobs they love. Because they cant make with a need to make to be valued and stay. I think what weve heard today is that parents want Different Things at different times. Sometimes Different Things in the same day. So they need to be able to have those options available for them. Childcare isnt something that you just turn on and off when families want it. Its got to exist in order for families to take advantage of it, where and when they wanted. And in a mixed Delivery System that works, we also faithbased programs are incredibly important to our entire system. I think 15 of parents use them, and its incredibly important to be able to actually look and what the proposals offer, in terms of investing in Family Childcare, center based, faith based programs. Centers and schools, and really having this system that provides for true family choice, which is not what families have right now. Miss greene ski, can you add to that . I dont think in mexico that you put out a one size fits all demanded curriculum. Told people they had to do it this way, or leave. Tell me how that works for you . Its quite the opposite. We made the conditions so they could work with families in developing programs and families want. Expanding eligibility for families was key to our success. Families now have more choice, providers have more revenue. They can pay their staff better, but its all in partnership. Everything in our regulations say that families have to be involved, families have to know its happening. Its quite the opposite of a one size fits all in this country. We need more federal investment to make it stick, and to make it work for businesses and fuel our economy. Exactly. And i think its really important, as a parent, i know every parent looks around. What is the best childcare facility i can go to . What reflects my values . Knowing that this is part of what we have to do today, that choice is critically important and is inherent in how our childcare proposal is put together. I really appreciate those responses. Thank you. Senator murray, thank you. And thank you for all the work you have done and are doing on childcare. Senator cassidy, do you have a brief closing statement . Let me just thank all the witnesses. I will just say this, this discussion and how we deal with childcare is a real reflection on our national priorities. We talk about our love for children, a future of americas our children. But we dont put that into effect when we pay child care workers 12 an hour. And we charge parents rates that are unaffordable, we dont have enough Slots Available for working families. I dont think its too much to ask it in the richest country in the history of the world, all of our children, no matter where they live, no matter what their background is, get the quality Early Childhood education they need in order to flourish. I dont think thats a radical socialist stick statement. I think thats something the vast majority of the American People believe in, so i think its timely got our priorities right. And if we get our priorities right, we can put children at the top of the list. We reform childcare, the federal government has an enormously Important Role to play. Let me thank all the witnesses for your testimonys, for being here today. We appreciate it very much. This is the end of our hearing, for anyone who wishes to ask additional questions, questions for the record will be due in ten business days. June 14th five pm, finally i ask unanimous consent. And one statement from state holders. So ordered, the committee stands adjourned. N content and accuracy visit ncicap. Org] today, security concerns into the 2024 president ial election cycle which testimony from election assistants and commissioners. Live, at 3 30 pm eastern, before the senate rules on the adminis
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