WASHINGTON (AP) — An advocacy group is set to invest $50 million to bolster support for child and elder care initiatives, aiming to tie the cost of caregiving to the nation's ongoing affordability discourse.
The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, established ten years ago, is working to elevate caregiver issues within election narratives. With child care costs surging and federal subsidy waitlists for low-income families expanding, the timing is critical. Sondra Goldschein, the campaign's executive director, highlighted the escalating financial burden of childcare, which now exceeds many families' housing expenses, and the compounded pressures on the 'sandwich generation'—those caring for both children and elderly parents.
Goldschein stated, When child care can cost more than your rent or a mortgage, or if you have to sacrifice a paycheck to care for a loved one, that influences voting behavior. Each election cycle, candidates are recognizing this more.\
The campaign plans to direct funds into Senate races in North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Maine, and Ohio, along with House races in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Support also includes volunteer outreach to discuss caregiving issues with voters.
As families grapple with rising costs across the board, including soaring gas prices linked to geopolitical tensions, Goldschein is hopeful that the emphasis on caregiving will resonate with the electorate.
Historically, candidates paid little attention to childcare, but the pandemic exposed the sector's vulnerabilities and its critical role in the workforce, especially for frontline employees. A significant investment from President Biden in 2021 allowed states to expand support for families and augment childcare worker wages. Nevertheless, efforts to create nationwide universal prekindergarten failed in Congress amid rising financial pressures, pushing candidates to adopt childcare affordability pledges into their platforms.
While Republican initiatives around child care have emerged, they tend to lack the scale and boldness of Democratic proposals. As elections approach, candidates across the spectrum are increasingly centering their platforms on caregiving, ensuring it remains a focal point in the ballots this election cycle.
