Thread by @RepKatiePorter

If you want a strong and growing economy, you should care about child care. Millions are leaving the workforce, hesitating to form small businesses, or forgoing promotions because child care is unaffordable for most families. Our entire economy is hurt as a result. (THREAD)

Facts:
1⃣ In most states, child care costs more than in-state college tuition.
2⃣ Child care costs have risen 1000% in recent years—faster than housing and health care.
3⃣ Women got 12% of new jobs last month. At this rate, it’ll take 9 years to return to pre-pandemic employment.

These realities are a big problem for our economy. Businesses can't recruit because child care eats up nearly all entry-level pay. Women are stalled out in parity in achieving leadership positions. Jobs during non-traditional hours are dominated by men.

The child care crisis is a crisis of productivity. It's economic quicksand that's miring multiple generations: older folks who provide unpaid child care to grandchildren, parents who exit the workforce, and kids who fall behind because their families can't afford quality care.

We all have an interest in our economy’s future. That means we all have an interest in child care. Right now, Congressional committees are working on child care policy. @RepSherrill and I led 100+ of our colleagues in laying out what an effective child care investment needs.

We're demanding an investment in child care that 1) extends through elementary school, 2) caps costs at 7% of income, 3) avoids unnecessary bureaucracy by administering aid through providers, 4) doesn't bog families down in paperwork, and 5) rebuilds the child care industry.

READ the full letter @RepSherrill and I spearheaded, which further details how and why we need to safeguard our economy by investing in child care ⬇️⬇️

QUOTE TWEET with your story of how these policies would help your family or business, so we can keep up the pressure up.