WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today led a virtual discussion with local childcare providers from West Virginia where she heard directly from them about the negative impacts the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree legislation would have on childcare workers and families.
During the discussion, the West Virginia childcare providers outlined several examples on how the Democrats’ plan will increase the cost of childcare for families, make it harder to attract and maintain a qualified workforce, and reduce the ability of families to choose the provider they want for their families.
“As a working mother and grandmother, I understand the importance of childcare,” Senator Capito said. “A strong childcare system is something that both Republicans and Democrats agree on, but the changes proposed in the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree would not accomplish this. Instead, their proposed changes will make childcare less accessible and more expensive for families. These programs are incredibly important in states like West Virginia, and I was glad to have the opportunity today to hear directly from individuals in my state on how this plan would impact the families that rely on them. Their concerns about the impact of this bill were palpable as they conveyed their worry about how this ill-advised attempt at the government takeover of child care threatens their life’s work.”
Today’s event included participants from West Virginia Christian Education Association, Grace Christian School (Huntington, W.Va.), Bible Center Preschool (Charleston, W.Va.), and Teays Valley Christian Daycare (Teays Valley, W.Va.).
“[As families are choosing daycares] should have options available that meet the needs of their family… This [bill] would put parents in a position where they would have to rely upon the government’s idea of how a child should be education and the training that they get. So, we are diametrically opposed [to this bill]. I think it’ a bad bill. I think it would definitely hurt the faith-based daycares and West Virginia… I do think that it will be very detrimental and will force some of our daycare providers out of existence,” Pastor Brokke, Executive Director of West Virginia Christian Education Association (WVCEA) and Administrator of Grace Christian School, said.
“What this [bill] is going to end up doing is it’s going to keep their [faith-based daycares] costs high. It’s going to allow the non-faith-base to keep their costs low. And, eventually, the outcome was going to be the faith-based daycares are going to become a very small or non-existent player in that marketplace,” Steve Corbin, Executive Director of Operations at Bible Center School, said.
Earlier this month, Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) led a similar discussion to highlight the issue with Senators Susan Collins (R-Main), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and local child care providers from Massachusetts, South Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey, and Colorado.
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