MINNESOTA — U.S. Sen. Tina Smith held a virtual press conference on Feb. 19, highlighting the need for federal relief in the childcare sector.
Smith included multiple Minnesotans in the presser, including a childcare provider, a parent and a business leader. Each spoke to how the lack of affordable, quality childcare has hurt their ability to earn a sufficient income. On the business end, they stressed that COVID-19 safety restrictions had caused them to accept less children to care.
At the same time increasing the expenses companies paid on things like cleaning supplies and face masks. Meanwhile, the parent spoke on how she had enrolled in college to utilize the institution's childcare facilities once she left her job.
So far, Smith says the federal government has provided $10 billion toward helping the childcare industry. She hopes to push the next COVID relief package in Congress to have an addition $40 billion to help the sector.
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