WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King has joined bipartisan legislation to address the nationwide shortage of affordable child care, which is affecting participation in the workforce. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would provide competitive grants for states to train child care workers and build or renovate child care facilities. The legislation comes as families across the country struggle to access available child care, with rural communities increasingly becoming “child care deserts” due to the noticeable decline in the number of child care providers.

“Affordable childcare is one of the most pressing needs for working parents, children, and small businesses looking for workers, and yet, too many families struggle to find childcare in their own communities,” said Senator Angus King. “The bipartisan Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act will create a much-needed federal grant program to invest in local child care centers and addresses the serious shortage. This isn’t just a social issue, it’s an economic one too. When families can access childcare, small businesses thrive with workers from the local community, parents are able to pursue their careers, and our children are provided with the attention and care they need to thrive.”

The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would:

• Address the shortage of affordable child care and qualified child care professionals, particularly in rural areas; 
• Provide competitive grants to states to support the education, training, or retention of the child care workforce;
• Provide competitive grants to states to build, renovate, and expand child care facilities in areas experiencing shortages; 
• Require grant applicants to demonstrate how their projects would increase the availability and affordability of quality child care, and help child care workers continue advance their careers; and 
• Enhance retention and compensation of quality child care professionals.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act has also been endorsed by Save the Children and Children’s Institute.

Last month, King visited the University of Maine at Farmington’s (UMF) Child Care and Early Education Center to see how the school is using $2 million in federal funding to renovate and expand the facility and operations. The center received $1 million from the American Rescue Plan and $1 million in Congressionally-Directed Spending secured by Senator Susan Collins and supported by Senator King. During the visit, Senator King met with UMF leaders, students, and parents to discuss the importance of childcare and a childcare workforce to Franklin County, the success of the University’s programs, and how the new funds are helping these important efforts.

Senator King has long worked to expand access to child care and reduce the workforce shortage in the critical sector. He secured millions to improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and recently worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

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