Yellen, Harris to argue that investment in child care benefits overall economy

[September 15, 2021]  By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Vice President Kamala Harris will urge Congress on Wednesday to back proposed spending on affordable child care, armed with a new Treasury report that maps out big benefits such care offers the economy.

Congress is considering a $3.5 trillion package of measures that would include: free preschool for all 3- and 4-year olds; boost pay for childcare workers, 95% of whom are women; cut the costs of such care in half for most families; and make permanent a child and dependent care tax credit.

Treasury said the measures would expand both demand for childcare and supply of such care, providing lifelong positive effects for children, their parents, and the economy as a whole.

"The president's proposals are crucial to maintaining our economic success," Treasury said in the report, citing multiple positive spillover effects for wages, society at large and employment.

"A well-funded child care sector will help parents remain in the labor force, work the number of hours and schedule that are best for their career and family, earn a living and join in our shared economic prosperity," it said.

The report laid out what it called the multiple market failures of the current system, which relies on private financing, and urged changes that would allow parents to contribute more fully to the economy and make a solid living.

It noted that the average family with at least one child under the age of 5 now must devote about 13% of family income to pay for child care, but President Joe Biden's proposals would reduce that amount to no more than 7%, it said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen answers questions during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to examine the FY22 budget request for the Treasury Department on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., June 23, 2021. Greg Nash/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The United States ranks 35th of 27 countries tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in terms of public dollars spent on early childhood education and care, relative to gross domestic product.

While France invests about $7,000 per infant to five-year old, the United States invests just $2,400. That in turn depresses income for child care workers, the report noted.

With average annual pay of $24,230, child care workers are in the second percentile of all professions, and more than 15% of them are below the poverty line in 41 states, forcing them to rely on public services for their economic needs, the report said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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