TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
For millions of Americans, returning to work is not just contingent on the lifting of stay-at-home orders and their employer reopening, but on securing care for their children. The existing childcare arrangements for many working parents have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. To ensure that more Americans can quickly return to work and to support our nation’s overall economic recovery, Congress should provide timely, targeted, and temporary emergency assistance to licensed childcare centers and homes. Similarly, states should continue to implement temporary regulatory actions to help licensed centers and homes quickly and safely adjust to meet operational challenges.
To protect public health, many camps and other facilities that care for large groups of children have cancelled their summer programs. Childcare facilities in many states are operating under reduced capacity and social distancing orders. In addition, the childcare industry is comprised of many small and very small businesses – many run by women and women of color – who are on the brink of collapse and may never reopen. While critical support through the CARES Act was provided to small businesses early on in this crisis, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) only one-quarter of the childcare market received a Paycheck Protection Loan.
For those that have remained open and that will reopen, decreased capacity and new pandemic-related costs mean operating losses. That will eventually lead to more closures and even less available childcare.
As part of the next COVID-19 response package, we urge Congress to provide temporary emergency assistance targeted to licensed childcare providers to help cover increased expenses and forgone revenue directly tied to maintaining public health. Combined with state efforts to help restore lost capacity, your efforts will help ensure that children have a safe place to go as their parents return to work.
Sincerely,
Alaska Chamber
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA
California Chamber of Commerce
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
DC Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi Economic Council
Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry
The Business Council of New York State
North Carolina Chamber
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
State Chamber of Oklahoma
Oregon Business and Industry
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Association of Washington Business
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
