Accessible Childcare

Wisconsin families are facing a childcare cliff–rising costs and closures of childcare centers are making it nearly impossible, and sometimes impossible, for families to access necessary childcare.

Wisconsin families are critical players in the Wisconsin workforce, and childcare centers are the workforce behind the workforce–we must continue to act to help Wisconsin families.

I fought hard this last legislative session to preserve Child Care Counts. This funding helps working families afford childcare, and it helps childcare centers remain open and able to provide quality care. Without this funding childcare centers in Wisconsin will close, and already high childcare costs will continue to rise. 

I supported a childcare tax credit expansion this past legislative session to reduce the tax burden for families who are struggling to afford the high cost of childcare. I have spoken to constituents who, with tears in their eyes, have told me how valuable this tax credit was to their family.

We know that access to affordable childcare is a hurdle to entering or reentering the workforce. We know that women are affected disproportionately by lack of access to childcare, and we know that during the pandemic, it was women who disproportionately were the ones who left the workforce due to lack of childcare. I am committed to removing the hurdle of high childcare costs and supporting access to affordable childcare because it is both the right moral action, as well as legislative action to expand the workforce.