Voters Support Expanding Access to Affordable Childcare Through the Child Care for Every Community Act
By Brian Burton and Sabrina Jacobs
Over the past several years, the cost of childcare has risen significantly in the United States; in 2020, the average cost was $10,174 per year. According to the Department of Labor, families are paying a whopping 8 to 19 percent of their income on childcare, making it difficult for parents to afford other necessities like housing, groceries, and healthcare.
And while childcare itself has become exorbitantly expensive, wages for childcare workers remain incredibly low: The median wage for a childcare worker is roughly $13 per hour, below minimum wage in several states.
In a new survey, Data for Progress finds 67 percent of voters are concerned about the cost of childcare in the United States, including 76 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Independents, and 62 percent of Republicans.
In order to remedy the high cost of childcare, lawmakers are considering the Child Care for Every Community Act, which would expand access to affordable childcare and early childhood education. The bill would help create jobs for early education professionals, and ensure that half of families pay no more than $10 a day for childcare. The proposal would also help families afford childcare by placing a cap on the cost of childcare for all families and creating a sliding scale for childcare costs based on a family’s income.
Seventy-nine percent of voters support the Child Care for Every Community Act, including 89 percent of Democrats, 77 percent of Independents, and 70 percent of Republicans.
Finding affordable childcare puts an enormous strain on millions of families across the country. Voters overwhelmingly support expanding access to childcare to ensure families can get the support they need.
Brian Burton (@Brian_C_Burton) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.
Sabrina Jacobs (@bri_jacobs) is a staff writer at Data for Progress.