{"id":24728,"date":"2026-05-20T15:43:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=24728"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:08:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:08:54","slug":"merkley-mcbath-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-tackle-child-care-workforce-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/merkley-mcbath-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-tackle-child-care-workforce-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkley, McBath Lead Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Child Care Workforce Shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act<\/em>. The bipartisan bill would address the child care workforce shortage by investing in career and technical education (CTE) programs and incentivizing more students to enter the early childhood workforce upon graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAs I hold town halls in all of Oregon\u2019s 36 counties every year, I hear from folks about child care being too inaccessible. Ensuring working families can access decent, affordable child care is an essential foundation for the middle class to thrive,\u201d<\/strong> dijo Merkley. \u201cOur bipartisan bill invests in the child care workforce, a win for parents who need child care and for Oregon businesses who need more child care providers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEvery parent deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their child is in good hands while they go to work and provide for their family. For too long, finding affordable, quality childcare has been out of reach for working Americans,\u201d<\/strong> said McBath. "El Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act<\/em> will invest in career and technical programs that open doors for students who want to serve their communities as early childhood educators. It’s our responsibility to prepare the next generation of childcare workers and give families the support they need to thrive.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the House, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA-15), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) co-led the introduction of the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cChild care is essential for children, families, businesses, and communities to thrive,\u201d<\/strong> dijo Bonamici. \u201cWe need more students to enter this critical profession, and career and technical education (CTE) programs have great potential to make it easier and more affordable for them to do so. I\u2019m grateful to work with a group of bipartisan colleagues to introduce this commonsense legislation.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe shortage of childcare workers has a negative effect upon families needing structured care environments and also our economy,\u201d<\/strong> dijo Thompson. “I am proud to support the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act <\/em>to help expand career and technical education, and create pathways in childhood education to meet the needs of parents, children, and workers.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cNo parent should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their children. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in this common-sense bipartisan effort to address the child care shortage head-on. In Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, childhood poverty rates remain among the highest in the nation. This legislation will help strengthen career and technical education (CTE) programs, giving our children the strong foundation they need to succeed. It represents an important step towards a robust federal commitment to supporting children and families across the country,\u201d<\/strong> said Mannion.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWorking families depend on access to affordable, reliable childcare, but workforce shortages continue to make that harder to find. This bipartisan legislation helps build a stronger pipeline of early childhood educators by investing in career and technical education and creating pathways for students to enter the field. Supporting childcare workers means supporting families, strengthening our economy, and giving children the foundation they need to succeed,\u201d<\/strong> said Lawler.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAccess to affordable, reliable childcare is essential for working families and for the strength of our economy,\u201d<\/strong> said Kiggans. \u201cRight now, too many parents are struggling to find quality care, while childcare providers continue to face severe workforce shortages. I am proud to support the bipartisan Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act<\/em> because it takes meaningful steps to strengthen the pipeline of skilled early childhood educators and expand opportunities for students interested in this critical profession. We must ensure America\u2019s parents are supported and their children have a strong foundation to succeed!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

El Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act <\/em>har\u00eda:<\/p>\n\n\n\n