Urge Your Michigan Senator to Support $1.4 Billion Boost in Child Care for Michigan Families
By MUUSJN on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021
CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR!
Click HERE to Get the Name & Phone Number of Your State Senator
BACKGROUND: Michigan can’t get back to work unless families have access to quality child care. Child care businesses and teachers across the state are struggling to make ends meet. Congress recognized that earlier this year when it passed two rounds of federal stimulus funding through the COVID relief legislation, including the American Rescue Plan. Also a bi-partisan group of Michigan legislators voted to adopt the $1.4 billion package of child care bills to expand access to high quality child care and make it more affordable. House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Albert Thomas, acknowledged that the bill adopted in the House has some differences from Governor Whitmer’s proposal, but said “I’m confident that we will find common ground to move forward and make a real difference in helping Michigan families to meet their child care needs. Proposed reforms include:
- $650 million in new and expanding sites in communities without adequate child care;
- Expand eligibility for subsidized child care from 150% to 200% poverty ($53,000 for family of four);
- Make no or low cost child care to 150,000 more children;
- Increase access to child care subsidies for student parents enrolled in state subsidized programs;
- Allocate almost $125 million toward premium retention pay bonuses for child care professionals.
However, Michigan Senators aren’t expected to take up the Senate bill until they return from recess at the end of August. Families wanting to get back to work and child care providers wanting to hire more child care workers need help NOW!!
TELL YOUR SENATOR TO VOTE YES
On Governor Whitmer’s $1.4 Billion Child Care Proposal
Category: News |