How Sen. Tammy Baldwin is getting help to Wisconsin families for childcare

Parents who have two young children needing childcare in Wisconsin are paying, on average, more than $25,000 per year.

That’s more than annual tuition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. She’s been at the forefront of legislation helping to confront the childcare crisis that communities across the country are facing.

“When I travel across Wisconsin, I hear from communities big and small about the impact of the childcare crisis—as families struggle to afford care, businesses struggle to find workers, and providers struggle to pay their hardworking staff and keep their doors open,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin recently sponsored a bill that provides $8.75 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which will help more families across the country find and afford the childcare they need by awarding federal grants to states and territories. It’s the primary source of federal funding for childcare subsidies to assist working families, and to provide funds to improve the quality of childcare.

This year, Wisconsin will receive $121.9 million through the CCDBG, an increase of $8 million compared to last year.
“While there’s more work left to do, I’m proud to cut costs for working families, better ensure all kids are getting a strong start, and get more parents back to work,” Baldwin said. “Investing in childcare is not only an investment in our children’s future, it’s an investment in our ‘Made in Wisconsin’ economy.”

Sen. Baldwin also delivered direct support in the annual funding package to projects expanding access to affordable childcare across Wisconsin, especially in rural areas with childcare deserts.

• Green County Family YMCA: $1 million to support facility expansion to include new childcare and youth development centers.
• Jackson County Child Care Network: $1 million to increase access to childcare in Jackson County.
• United Way of Kenosha County: $200,000 to support literacy programming for children and families.
• ADVOCAP: $600,000 for a shared facility for childcare entrepreneurs in Fond du Lac.
  
• Brown County United Way: $450,000 to support childcare.