OLYMPIA, WA – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) was in Olympia today to talk about the steps that are being taken at the state and federal levels to address the childcare crisis. She recently was able to secure a $1.85 billion increase in federal childcare funding – an historic increase of 30% – in the end-of-year spending bill for the Child Care and Development Block Grant.
Murray says this issue is the reason she got into politics in the first place.
Murray says childcare is the most important issue she has been working on for parents, children, and childcare workers.
Murray says at the same time, childcare workers are being paid poverty wages.
She adds that she has been fighting for childcare from the very day she arrived in Olympia. Back then, she was the only one trying to effect changes. But now, there are numerous lawmakers on the state level who are working to improve childcare.
But Murray says she is not just a “Mom in tennis shoes.”
Meanwhile, 30th District Senator Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) is Chair of the Human Services Committee and Vice-Chair of the Senate’s Early Learning K-12 Education Committee. She says increasing access to childcare and support to providers are “top priorities.”
Wilson says many things continue to be problems and struggles for parents and providers alike.
In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed the Fair Start For Kids Act.
Representative Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island/41st District), Chair of the Human Services Youth and Early Learning Committee, helped to create the Fair Start For Kids Act. She says it was a truly transformational childcare bill for Washington State, but there is still work to be done.
Watch press conference here:
Rep. Tana Senn
Sen. Claire Wilson
U.S. Senator Patty Murray
