WASHINGTON – Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) today joined Tom Reed (R-NY) and a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers in an effort to ensure childcare facilities have the resources they need to continue serving American families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping facilitate parents returning to the workplace to spur economic recovery. Balderson cosponsors Reed’s Back to Work Child Care Grants Act, which would provide grants to childcare facilities based on both providers’ needs and costs incurred due to the pandemic.

“Empowering Ohio’s childcare providers to continue serving families is a critical step toward our full economic recovery,” said Balderson. “With Governor DeWine’s announcement that Ohio’s childcare facilities can reopen at full capacity August 9^th, we must ensure they are fully equipped to do so safely.”

The Back to Work Child Care Grants Act would provide nine months of financial assistance to childcare centers, operators, and providers, enabling them to safely reopen and welcome children, and ensuring America’s families have access to a robust childcare sector. The legislation would allow states to receive funds without facing administrative red tape as well as create their own plans for how best to use these funds to support childcare facilities.

These grants would also compliment activities supported by the Community Development Block Grant, while requiring grantees to follow all state and local health and safety guidelines. States must also ensure a diverse field of childcare settings for parents, including center-based, family childcare, and faith-based options.

Companion legislation was also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), along with eight cosponsors. Both bills await consideration in their respective chambers.

BACKGROUND

Since the pandemic hit the U.S., Balderson has championed issues related to childcare, working to include funding for childcare facilities in previous relief legislation. Recently, Balderson sent a letter pushing for additional aid to childcare providers and additionally cosponsored the bipartisan Family Savings Flexibility Act. This legislation would extend families’ use of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Arrangements (DCFSAs) to pay for childcare into next year, instead of losing those tax-advantaged savings at the end of this year.

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