Congress must act now to prevent America’s working families from falling off the ‘child care cliff’ 

At the end of this month, America’s working families who rely on affordable child care are going to be in a free-fall when Congress pushes them off the child care cliff. 

In the throes of the pandemic, federal lawmakers had epiphanies decades in the making: shoring up care infrastructure — paid leave, elder care and child care — is critical to the economic well-being of our nation. In a historic investment, Congress earmarked a total of $52 billion that has supported child care for more than 3 million children nationwide, kept tens of thousands of child care and early education workers employed and enabled thousands of child care centers to stay open.  

Alarmingly — and not widely known — the clock is ticking on this vital support for America’s working families. The $37 billion of this funding that has kept the child care system from crumbling expires Sept. 30 — a looming catastrophe dubbed the “child care cliff.” 

America’s families deserve better; our elected representatives in Washington must act immediately.  

The child care cliff not only jeopardizes family stability, it will hurt state economies. The Century Foundation estimates that the loss in tax and business revenue will cost states $10.6 billion in economic activity per year. In Maryland, where I live, 69,044 children are expected to lose their child care, 2,384 programs are projected to close and parents stand to lose $241 million in earnings. In a larger state, like Texas, the estimated loss in earnings is $775 million. Nationally, the child care cliff imperils well over $20 billion in economic activity. 

The potential consequences are frightening — most acutely for families of Black and immigrant women like mine. Our families already struggle economically, so the negative effects of a downturn are compounded. There is a saying in Black communities, “When white folks get a cold, Black folks get pneumonia.” 

The pneumonia of massive job losses threatens Black and immigrant women, who comprise more than 40 percent of child care workers in the U.S. This includes both in-home child care providers and those who work in child care centers. On the other side of the child care cliff, where will these women work?  

Black and immigrant women are also more likely to be low-wage workers who are reliant on affordable child care. What will these women do when child care costs skyrocket beyond their budgets? What will happen to their communities that are already vulnerable to the negative impact of child care disruptions?  

This vulnerability stems, in part, from the fact that Black and immigrant women are more likely to work in low-wage jobs that do not provide paid leave. With these jobs, there is no space to take time off while figuring out child care alternatives. How will they work without child care? 

My sister recently gave birth. Our family supports her with the new baby as much as we can. We take turns with child care, but we aren’t always available. With the loss of child care funding, there won’t be child care options for my sister other than what we as a family can piecemeal together — and we are not the norm. Only 27 percent of young families in the U.S. have a family member available for child care. This patchwork approach isn’t an adequate or sustainable solution with enough consistency for a young family to plan. 

The Child Care Stabilization Act — introduced recently in the Senate, along with companion legislation in the House — will extend federal funding, including $16 billion in mandatory funding for the next five years. Poll after poll shows strong bipartisan support for helping working families access child care. As advocates for working families and economic justice, Family Values at Work supports this urgently needed vital legislation. We call on Congress to protect the well-being of millions of children, working families and the economy and move swiftly to pass these bills. 

Josephine Kalipeni (@malawian81) is executive director of Family Values @ Work, a movement network of grassroots organizers and coalitions in more than two dozen states working to win paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe days, and affordable, high-quality child care at the state and national levels.