PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — One state Representative is looking to address the affordability of childcare for Pennsylvania residents.
As prices continue to rise, many families throughout the Commonwealth area have to spend almost half of their housing costs on daycare costs for their children. Placing many into an affordability crisis, Rep. Chris Pielli (D-Chester) writes in a memo to fellow PA House members, that many now have a heavy financial burden on their shoulders as they look for quality care for their kids.
He now plans to introduce legislation to address the crisis by the creation of a new “Child Care Affordability Program” that would accept households whose income exceeds the limits of the current Child Care Works program. The new program would offer affordable copayments based on income, serving over 300,000 children and saving parents thousands when it comes to child care expenses annually.
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Pielli also notes that the affordability program would also be an investment in the state’s economic future, as a reported $6.65 billion yearly in Pennsylvania, “due to lost earnings and productivity driven by the child care crisis.”
This potential program would offer affordable and quality child care that would benefit Pennsylvania families and businesses, he added.
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