VP Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote that lowered childcare costs for thousands of families in Wisconsin

VP Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote that lowered childcare costs for thousands of families in Wisconsin

Earlier this year, Vice President Kamala Harris announced new federal actions that will can save Wisconsin families hundreds of dollars on childcare costs per month.    More than 110,000 families in Wisconsin can now benefit from expanded child and dependent care state tax credits and the Biden-Harris administration’s support of child care assistance:  

• Tax credits of up to $3,500 for one child and up to $7,000 for two or more children
• Average of $656 in tax relief to over 110,000 Wisconsin families totaling $73 million 
• Child care co-payments for working families capped at 7% of their income

  Finding quality child care can be a challenge, so lawmakers hope these changes will ease staff shortages.   “Working families in our state can’t afford to lose any more affordable child care slots, and our economy and workforce can’t afford to lose more workers because they can’t find or access the child care they need,” said Governor Tony Evers.   The Biden-Harris action directs states to pay child care more fairly and on time, improving financial stability and incentivizing more providers to participate in the subsidized programs.   Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the 2021 American Rescue Plan which has helped to keep over 225,000 child care providers across the country open and lowered child care costs for military families.