Abby McCloskey, Senate Banking Committee Subcommitee on Economic Policy, June 23, 2021

“Chair Warren, Ranking Member Kennedy, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

The nature of work and family has changed significantly in recent decades. The majority of parents of young children are now in the labor force, and mothers are the main breadwinners in 40 percent of families.

This has created tensions around work and care that both the government and markets have failed to adequately address.

Most recently, the pandemic revealed just how intertwined care is with the economy, providing a unique opportunity to rethink the child care landscape.

As policymakers weigh new reforms, I’d like to put forward five principles to target our child care investment . . . .”