Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Commissioner Adelman Visit Princeton YMCA, Discuss Importance of Federal Funding for Childcare
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), and New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman toured the Princeton YMCA, discussed the importance of childcare services like those provided by the YMCA, and committed to securing and using federal funding to support families with childcare services.
The average New Jersey family pays up to $1,500 per month on childcare, which is at least 40% of monthly income for families who are eligible for assistance through the Childcare and Development Block Grant program. This joint state-federal program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and provides childcare support for New Jersey families, so parents can get to work and kids can grow up happy and healthy.
It is crucial that funding continues for this program. That’s why Rep. Watson Coleman has signed on as an original co-sponsor to Whip Clark’s bill, the Childcare Stabilization Act, which will provide $16 million in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to support families.
“Affordable childcare is essential for helping families thrive,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “A lack of affordable childcare can be a barrier to the workforce for many American parents. By supporting families with the assistance they need to make sure their children are looked after while they’re at work, we can open the door to prosperity for families across New Jersey, and the United States. I’m grateful to Whip Clark for her leadership on this critical issue, and to organizations like the YMCA who provide this important service.”
“Child care is economic infrastructure — it enables parents to work and businesses to thrive,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “But right now, our system is in crisis. Far too many parents can’t afford care and early educators aren’t paid a living wage. That’s why Democrats are working to pass our Child Care Stabilization Act, legislation that would lower costs for families, get more kids in classrooms, and support our critical child care workforce. I am grateful for partners like Rep. Watson Coleman, who is fighting every day in Congress to build an economy that truly works for working families.”
“A thriving child care system creates more jobs; drives economic security and inclusive economic growth; provides vital support for working families and their employers; and most importantly, provides vital early childhood development that pays dividends over our children’s lifetimes. Governor Murphy and NJ Human Services have never lost sight of that. With additional funding from Congress, we have invested more than a billion dollars since 2020 to provide higher pay to childcare workers, increase funding and support for childcare providers, and help parents reduce childcare expenses, returning dollars to working families’ pockets,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “I am grateful to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Congresswoman Katherine Clark for their continued work as child care champions, and I look forward to continuing our work to expand access to high quality and affordable child care so vital to working parents and children.”