CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL - Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions - Examining Child Care and Preschool, Focusing on Cutting Costs for Working Families - March 22, 2022

Oct 15, 2026

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A U.S. Senate hearing transcript examines childcare and preschool affordability for working families, focusing on policies to cut costs. The Committee convenes on March 22, 2022, with opening remarks highlighting widespread financial strain: parents’ debt from childcare expenses, tradeoffs between childcare and rent, and work disruption when families cannot secure care. It also addresses limited provider access, childcare deserts, workforce underpayment, and the added barriers faced by families with children with disabilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages144

Reading Time6 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Statements

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Committee Members

Witnesses

Additional Material

CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL:CUTTING COSTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES HEARING OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH,EDUCATION,LABOR,AND PENSIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON EXAMINING CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL,FOCUSING ON CUTTINGCOSTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES 一 MARCH 22,2022 Printed for the use of the Committee on Health,Education,Labor,and Pensions 染 Available via the World Wide Web:http://www.govinfo.gov U.S.GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICEWASHINGTON:2023 48-902 PDF BERNIE SANDERS (①),VermontROBERT P.CASEY,JR.,PennsylvaniaTAMMY BALDWIN,WisconsinCHRISTOPHER S.MURPHY,ConnecticutTIM KAINE,Virginia MAGGIE HASSAN.New HampshireTINA SMITH,MinnesotaJACKY ROSEN,NevadaBEN RAY LUJAN.New MexicoJOHN HICKENLOOPER.Colorado COMMITTEE ON HEALTH,EDUCATION,LABOR,AND PENSIONS PATTY MURRAY,Washington,Chair RICHARD BURR,North Carolina,Ranking Member RAND PAUL,M.D.,KentuckySUSAN M.COLLINS,MaineBILL CASSIDY,M.D.,LouisianaLISA MURKOWSKI,AlaskaMIKE BRAUN,IndianaROGER MARSHALL,M.D.,KansasTIM SCOTT,South CarolinaMITT ROMNEY,UtahTOMMY TUBERVILLE,AlabamaJERRY MORAN,Kansas EVAN T.SCHATZ,Staff DirectorDAVID P.CLEARY,Republican Staff DirectorJOHN RIGHTER,Deputy Staff Director C O N T E NT S STATEMENTS TUESDAY,MARCH 22,2022 Pag CoMMITTEE MEMBERS Murray, Hon. Patty, Chair, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, andPensions,Opening statement…………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Burr, Hon. Richard, Ranking Member, a U.S. Senator from the State ofNorth Carolina, Opening statement…………………………………………………………………………………4 WITNESSES Evans Allvin, Rhian, Chief Executive Officer, National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC), Washington, DC ……………………………………7Prepared statement …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 Summary statement……………………………………………………………………………………11 Kashen, Julie, Director, Women's Economic Justice, and Senior Fellow, Cen- tury Foundation, New York, NY……………………………………………………………………………………12 Prepared statement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………14 Summary statement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17 Ballivian, Maria-Isabel, Executive Director, ACCA Child Development Center, Annandale,VA………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………18 Prepared statement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Summary statement………………………………………………………………………………………………………21Reynolds, Ellen, Chief Executive Officer, Georgia Child Care Association, Sandy Springs, GA ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………21Prepared statement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 Summary statement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Statements,articles, publications,letters, etc. Murray, Hon. Patty: Letters in support of a robust investment in our Nation's childcare sec- tor……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………52 # CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL:CUTTING COSTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES Tuesday,March 22,2022 U.S.SENATE,CoMMITTEE ON HEALTH,EDUCATION,LABOR,AND PENSIONS,Washington,DC. The Committee met,pursuant to notice,at 10:01 a.m.,in room106,Dirksen Senate Office Building,Hon.Patty Murray,Chair ofthe Committee,presiding. Present:Senators Murray [presiding],Casey,Murphy,Kaine,Hassan,Smith,Rosen,Hickenlooper,Burr,Collins,Murkowski,Braun,Scott,and Romney. OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR MURRAY The CHAIR.Good Morning.The Senate Health,Education,Labor,and Pensions Committee will please come to order.Today we areholding a hearing on the need to lower costs for families when itcomes to childcare and pre-K.I will have an opening statement fol-lowed by Ranking Member Burr,and then we will introduce ourwitnesses.After they give their testimony,Senators will each have5 minutes for a round of questions. Again,while we were unable to have the hearing fully opened tothe public or media for in-person attendance,live video is availableon our Committee website at help.senate.gov.And if you are inneed o

FAQs

What is the hearing’s main focus regarding childcare and preschool?

The hearing examines the need to lower costs for families, especially working families, in relation to childcare and pre-K.

What problems affecting affordability are emphasized in the opening statement?

The statement highlights that childcare costs can exceed college tuition, contribute to parental debt, force families to choose between childcare and rent, and lead parents to miss work or leave jobs.

How does the document describe access to childcare providers?

It describes “childcare deserts” where many communities lack sufficient options, including rural areas, and notes additional challenges for parents of children with disabilities.

Oct 15, 2026

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