E&W Blog

Today, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing  to examine how the private sector is playing an important role in addressing the cost and availability of child care. 

Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) opened the hearing by discussing how public-private approaches are key to increasing access to affordable child care. 

“Employer engagement is a critical leg in the three-part support system holding up our child care market: families, government, and employers each play a role…CCDBG and private-sector innovation should be partners in meeting the child care needs of America’s workforce,” he said. 

Witnesses highlighted the importance of employer-based tax credits such as 45F—which was significantly expanded under the Working Families Tax Cuts that was signed into law in July.

Mr. Haden Polseno-Hensley, President and Co-Founder at Red Rooster Coffee Company, LLC, explained how child care facilities benefit children as well as employees. “One benefit that is less quantifiable is the increased level of community in our company, including the relationships between the children that have attended Yellow Hen together. The children are bonded together in a uniquely strong fashion, and adding to that bond, our employees know each other’s children, which creates a fraternal feeling that is hard to replicate,” he said.


In an exchange with Rep. Mike Rulli (R-OH), Ms. Alex Grover, CEO at i2M, discussed ways Congress can help employers provide child care as an employee benefit. “[Congress should] keep the definitions flexible so private business can be creative… there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to child care. Employers who really understand their workforce understand the demographics and understand the needs are very well suited to help define that,” she said.


In other words, Congress needs to cut the red tape so the private sector can innovate. 

Ms. Mary Lou Burke Afonso, COO at Bright Horizons, explained to Rep. James Moylan (R-GU) how child care is helping businesses retain talented workers and maintain a strong workforce. “Right now, so many people are delaying when they have children and what that means is [businesses] have a talented, educated workforce that might make the choice to go out of the workforce if there isn’t child care for them,” she said.