Rakeen Mabud: “…what’s clear is that all eligible families would be guaranteed assistance…[would] benefit the *overwhelming majority* of US families”

As rumors swirl over cuts to the reconciliation bill, it’s important to set the record straight on a key piece of the Build Back Better plan: child care. The United States is woefully behind on child care along two dimensions: high costs for families and low wages for care providers, both of which would be addressed in the child care investments under consideration. As Groundwork’s Chief Economist Rakeen Mabud explained: 

“Caregiving is the too often invisible scaffolding that makes our economy run. We’ve ignored it for way too long, to all of our detriment. We have a shot to actually address this longstanding care crisis head on, so let’s not waste it.”

Read her full Twitter thread explainer here and email press@groundworkcollaborative.org to learn more about the proposed child care policies in the Build Back Better agenda. 

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ON BACKGROUND

• Millions of women have been driven from the workforce due to a combination of job loss and an inability to pay for child care. In September, 309,000 women ages 20 and over left the workforce – the largest drop since September 2020. Today, women’s labor force participation rate is 57.1%, the lowest it has been since October 1988.

• Women of color  — and the families who depend on them  — have borne the brunt of the pandemic. From poverty-level wages for paid care workers to a lack of affordable child care options for parents and caregivers, the pandemic has amplified long-running inequities. Women of color are disproportionately affected by these policies, as the sector is nearly 95% women and one in five child care workers are Latina. 

• Strong care policies lead to a stronger and more resilient economy. Studies have shown that robust child care policies would significantly increase the number of women in the workforce and help address the current labor shortage. 

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About Groundwork Collaborative

The Groundwork Collaborative’s mission is to advance an economic vision for strong, broadly shared prosperity and true opportunity for all. Learn more at https://groundworkcollaborative.org/ and follow us on Twitter @Groundwork.