KAINE UNDERSCORES NEED TO PASS HIS BIPARTISAN CHILD CARE LEGISLATION FOLLOWING CENTURY FOUNDATION REPORT

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reiterated the need to pass his bipartisan legislation to address the child care crisis following a recent report released by The Century Foundation. The report found that child care costs in Virginia have increased by 11% since 2019, while child care employment levels fell by 18 percent from 2019 to 2023. In Virginia, the average cost for an infant in a center is $16,397 per year, and the annual cost for two children in a center is 73% more than the average rent payment and 24% more than the average mortgage payment.

“This report underscores what I hear around Virginia—that child care is unaffordable for many families, and that providers are struggling to retain staff and keep their doors open. This crisis isn’t going to go away on its own, and it’s negatively impacting our economy as many parents aren’t able to enter the workforce. Congress must act to make it easier for parents to access quality, affordable care for their kids. This is an issue that transcends parties and state lines, and I will keep working with my colleagues to garner support for my bipartisan legislation,” said Kaine.

The Highland Children’s House provides licensed childcare for children in Bath and Highland Counties. As a non-profit organization, they have always focused on providing quality childcare at an affordable price for the families they serve. In this interview, I sit down with Executive Director Callie Smith to learn more about why support on both the state and community level is vitally important.