A Recent Report Labeled The Entire State Of Nevada As A “Child Care Desert”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act advanced out of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. This legislation would increase the availability of affordable, high-quality child care for Nevada families by allowing non-profit child care providers that qualify as small businesses greater access to Small Business Administration loan programs.
A recent report labeled the entire state of Nevada as a “child care desert,” and found that nearly 75 percent of children below the age of five don’t have access to a licensed child care provider. The report deemed the cost of child care a “huge concern” in Nevada and found it often to be more expensive than college tuition. It also attributed the lack of affordable and accessible child care to the worker shortage that Nevada businesses report experiencing.
“Without access to affordable child care, hardworking Nevada families continue to be squeezed by high costs that are forcing them to make tough choices,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m glad to see my bipartisan bill to help increase the number of child care providers and lower costs for hardworking families has passed out of committee. I’ll keep pushing to make sure this bill becomes law and delivers the financial relief working families deserve.”
“The First Five Years Fund is thrilled that the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has voted in support of Senator Ernst and Senator Rosen’s Child Care Small Business Investment Act, a commonsense proposal that would help expand access to high-quality, affordable child care for families by allowing non-profit child care providers to participate in critical SBA loan programs,” said FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling. “This legislation will benefit working families and child care providers alike, and we are so grateful for the leadership of Senators Ernst and Rosen. We look forward to continuing our work with lawmakers to get it across the finish line!”
Senator Rosen continues working to lower child care costs for Nevada’s hardworking families. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen visited a local Las Vegas child care provider to highlight this bipartisan legislation and to urge Congress to swiftly pass it. Senator Rosen also joined in introducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation that would help lower the costs of child care for an average American family to no more than $10-a-day.
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