| Limited access to affordable child care hinders too many Hoosier parents from finding jobs, and it keeps too many employers from finding workers. We have to start viewing child care as essential to the infrastructure of our state. Just as you can’t get to work without a road to drive on, you can’t get to work if you have no one to watch your children. Over the last four years, I have authored and supported multiple bills to help parents, providers and employers. This year, I supported Senate Enrolled Act 4, which allows additional state dollars to be invested in a federal program designed to help low-income families pay for child care. Thanks to that new law, the State Budget Committee recently reviewed an additional investment of $200 million in what’s known as the CCDF voucher program. This will reduce the number of families who are on the waitlist for access to affordable child care, allowing these parents to seek work and more employers to find workers. Another law I supported this year is House Enrolled Act 1177, which expands eligibility for Indiana’s tax credit for businesses that provide child care to their employees, incentivizing more employers to offer child care. Finally, in 2024, I authored Senate Enrolled Act 2 to reduce unnecessary regulations that drive up the costs of child care. My co-author and I drafted this bill following a summer study in which we heard hours of testimony, listening to ways we could responsibly lower costs while maintaining child safety.For example, one change we made through the law was to remove the regulation that those between the ages of 18 and 21 could not care for infant children, even if they were properly vetted and trained. We included this in the law after hearing testimony that removing that limitation would expand the pool of eligible workers without sacrificing safety. My work to make child care affordable again complements the work I am proud to have been a part of to try and get rising housing, medical, and electricity costs under control. These continue to be my top priorities and plans for the future as your state senator. |
