Legislators across the United States, including in New York City and Massachusetts, are taking significant steps to address the childcare affordability crisis, a pressing issue for many American families. In New York City, recognized as ground zero for America's affordability crisis, Representative Ritchie Torres, alongside RepBice, announced his role as a co-lead of the bipartisan CHILD Act. This proposed legislation aims to increase the cap of the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) Flexible Spending Account (FSA) from $5,000 to $10,000 and index it to inflation, according to a report from NY1. Similarly, in Massachusetts, the Senate plans to debate an early education and childcare bill that promises to improve affordability and access to high-quality teaching for the state's youngest residents, as stated by a top Democrat and reported by various local news outlets. The Massachusetts bill seeks to make childcare more accessible and affordable, highlighting a concerted effort across different states, including #IA04, to tackle the financial barriers that many families face in accessing quality childcare.
Childcare is too expensive for #IA04 families. That's why I introduced the CHILD Act with @RepBice. This legislation doubles the amount of money that families are allowed to save tax-free to pay for childcare and keeps more money in their pockets. https://t.co/D2hWhp4Rws
Childcare and early education is far too expensive for American families. @HouseDemocrats are united in the fight to help make affordable or cost-free early education accessible to middle- and working-class families across America. https://t.co/Zqbpq6V0Sg
Massachusetts bill aims to make child care more accessible and affordable https://t.co/HBOggE73L8
Bill aims to make child care more accessible and affordable in Massachusetts. https://t.co/7VrMbq1fSp https://t.co/PDVbJAtzG5
Quality child care is a necessity that can feel out of reach financially for many families in the Bronx. I’m proud to have introduced the CHILD Act, which seeks to make child care accessible and affordable for families in our borough and around the country. https://t.co/vUZlEyTGw5
Mass. Senate to consider legislation to boost struggling child care system, help parents https://t.co/fRnDyeWuqu
Massachusetts senators plan to debate an early education and childcare bill next week that a top Democrat said would improve the sectors’ affordability and increase access to “high quality” teaching for the youngest in the state. https://t.co/zjWCWWTeEX
CHILDCARE NYC is ground zero for America’s affordability crisis. I am a co-lead of the bipartisan CHILD Act, which would raise the cap of the DCAP FSA (pre-tax childcare fund) from $5k to $10k and then index it to inflation. From @NY1: https://t.co/CAVSZbMv0k