Joe Biden speaks at the dedication of the Dodd Center for Human Rights at the University of Connecticut on October 15, 2021 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
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UPDATED 4:58 PM PT – Friday, October 15, 2021
Joe Biden pushes his agenda on child care as part of his “Build Back Better” initiative. Biden addressed his plans for government-funded child care in the hopes that parents, and more-so mothers, are able to go back to work and make a living, which is a critical part of his social spending agenda.
Biden arrived in Hartford, Connecticut on Friday to promote his plans on child care, saying that investing in this program is vital to keep America competitive in the global economy. Biden voiced concerns over Democrat allies not understanding how beneficial the package is for working families all across the nation, and especially for those who can’t afford child care.
“How can we compete in a world where millions of Americans, parents, especially moms, can’t be part of the workforce because they can’t afford the cost of child care, or elder care I might add,” said Biden.
U.S. President Joe Biden touted a crucial part of his economic plan, funding for childcare that will free parents, mostly women, to work for pay, in a speech at a Connecticut childcare center https://t.co/iSDJjyK8O8 pic.twitter.com/7iIGCTrkXX
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 15, 2021
The Democrat initially pitched a $200 billion funding plan for universal child care programs as part of a broader “Care Economy” policy, which aimed to boost the economy by paying child and home health care workers more. However, the White House is now pushing for businesses to build on-site child care, which they believe will be beneficial for both parents and businesses.
“So, you go to work with your child and you have a serious facility on-site. Well, studies show that when you have on-site care for children, businesses, the business itself have less employee turnover, less absenteeism and higher productivity. We can show you all those studies. It’s real,” Biden said.
Democrat Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) have continuously pressed the left to trim the package down significantly and Republican senators are expected to oppose it altogether. Although, Biden acknowledged Democrats won’t be getting the initial $3.5 trillion package and plans to push for more funding once the “Build Back Better” initiative is passed even if it isn’t the amount they’d hoped for.
Meanwhile, Democrats have been working to reduce the package down to roughly $2 trillion, which would be paid for through higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy.
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