U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Right Start Child Care and Education Act. This bill would work to make child care more affordable and accessible for working families, including many Granite Staters who need child care options, by reforming the federal tax code. It also creates a new tax credit for child care professionals with college degrees, helping strengthen the child care workforce.

“I’ve visited child care centers across New Hampshire, and the feedback I’ve heard is the same in all corners of the state: child care is vital to our workforce, families and the overall economic success of our communities,” said Senator Shaheen. “The Right Start Child Care and Education Act would make important reforms to our tax code to promote and increase access to high-quality child care as well as support early education professionals, ensuring affordable and high quality child care options are available for families everywhere.”

“Affordable and accessible child care is one of the most pressing needs for working families in Maine and across the nation,” said Senator King. “The Right Start Child Care and Education Act would increase the childcare workforce, incentivize businesses to provide affordable child care for their employees, and increase the amount of money families can save, tax-free, to pay for child care. When families have access to care, they are able to succeed both at home and in their professional careers. Child care is more than a household priority; child care means business!”

Specifically, the Right Start Child Care and Education Act, would:

· Expand the employer-provided child care credit, including an additional expansion available to small businesses;

· Expand dependent care flexible spending accounts; and

· Create a new tax credit for child care professionals with relevant educational degrees.

Additional cosponsors of the legislation are U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

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