For decades, child care has been a significant issue that has often taken a backseat in political discussions, leaving millions of parents and caregivers overwhelmed and on their own. But 2024 is different. Child care has finally claimed a spot in the presidential race, with both parties addressing the issue head-on. This overdue attention couldn’t come at a more critical time.
With nearly half (47%) of parents spending more than $18,000 annually on care–and many struggling to find available care in the first place–it’s clear the system has been broken for many years. As these and other issues bubbled over, we are witnessing a unique moment in history, exemplified by the U.S. Surgeon General’s public health advisory on the mental well-being of parents in America, and coverage of child care in the debates. This year, the topic was raised at the first presidential debate, while the vice presidential debate dedicated eight minutes to it. What we learned through these moments was that both sides agree on the problem, but differ on the path towards a solution.
With Election Day fast approaching, it’s crucial for parents to understand where the candidates stand on this issue. We’ll break down each side’s approach, so you have the facts you need to make an informed choice at the polls for your family.
The rising cost of child care
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defined affordable child care as costing no more than 7% of a family’s household income in 2016. At that time, 54% of families were already spending 10% of their income or more on child care. Now, less than ten years later, this has grown to a whopping 84%. According to our most recent data, on average, families are spending nearly a quarter (24%) of their income each year on this need.
Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, has vowed to cap child care costs at 7% in alignment with the HHS definition. She has also spoken about the administration’s actions to lower copays for families using federal child care vouchers. As Vice President under the Biden administration, Harris has also been involved in public investments in care including “$24 billion in funding under the American Rescue Plan to support child care providers and the families that rely on them and executive orders with provisions to strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program and lower costs for families.”
Republican candidate and former president, Donald Trump, recently told business leaders that his plan to increase tariffs to 20% on all foreign imports would help bring in more funds to potentially be allocated to address child care. His running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, spoke about his stance at the VP debate, explaining how the federal government could subsidize the informal care that takes place at home or outside of child-care centers opening families up to more choice and flexibility.
Fair pay for child care providers
In Harris’ economic policy book, her administration promised it would work to boost wages of care workers and make sure they are treated with the “dignity and respect they deserve”, if elected. Governor Walz has also previously created a $316 million program to boost wages and benefits for those workers in his role as Governor of Minnesota.
During the debate, Governor Walz spoke about his views on the subject: “You can’t expect the most important people in our lives to take care of our children or our parents, to get paid the least amount of money…and we have to make it easier for folks to be able to get into that business and then to make sure that folks are able to pay for that.”
Senator Vance has explained that he would no longer require certain certifications and requirements as this hinders some people from entering the caregiving workforce. “Don’t force every early-child care specialist to go and get a six-year college degree where they’ve got a whole lot of debt and Americans are much poorer because they’re paying out the wazoo for daycare,” he said. “Empower working families, empower people who want to do these things for a living, and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Expansion of the child tax credit
While not exclusive to child care, this tax credit puts more funds into the pockets of American families which could help offset the high cost of care. We’ve seen this happen before during the pandemic, when the credit was boosted from $2,000 to $3,600 per child in 2021 and resulted in an all-time low child poverty rate. When this expansion expired, the child poverty rate quickly rose back up and continues to increase.
Both candidates have expressed interest in expanding this tax credit permanently. During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation”, Vance explained that Trump has been on the record for a long time supporting an expansion to this tax credit and that he would like to see it raised to $5,000 per child. Harris has proposed raising it to $6,000 for newborns, $3,600 for children under six, and $3,000 for children older than six. She also expressed interest in making the credit fully refundable, so low income families also are eligible to claim it.
The bottom line
Just a few short months ago, we were determined to make child care a topic that cannot be avoided during the election. Now, child care has made it into the national conversation on both sides of the aisle. This level of attention is unprecedented, and the policies discussed today could shape the future of care in America for generations to come.
Now, it’s up to you. Your vote represents your voice, and it’s time to make it count. Don’t let this moment pass–head to the polls and choose the path forward that best supports your family and community.
