Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, talks to a young girl after speaking at a campaign rally encouraging early voting on October 19, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Elijah Nouvelage / Getty
With the election mere days away, it’s crucial that we look at the proposals of the national parties with clear eyes. Recently, former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance made statements about child care that illustrate how profoundly disconnected they are from the lives of working- and middle-class families. Their positions on child care are reminiscent of antiquated views of families, women, and children, and are dangerously out of touch with the needs of millions of Americans who rely on accessible and affordable child care, a vital component of a lifelong education, social development, and a thriving economy.
Senator Vance’s suggestion that parents should rely on grandparents or extended family for child care is equally impractical and deeply insulting. He stated, “Maybe Grandma and Grandpa want to help out a bit more,” disregarding the fact that many families do not have this kind of support. This position screams of a desire to define the “right type of family,” while failing to recognize the reality that many grandparents are still working and unable to provide such assistance. As a grandmother, I can attest that my husband and I don’t have the luxury of staying home with our grandchildren, nor do we want to. We love them dearly, but also need our own downtime and breaks just like our daughters do.
MORE: Black Child Care Providers, Parents Explain Urgency Of The Moment
Both of us recognize the invaluable role of caregivers. I have a deep appreciation for Ms. Melissa, who cared for three of my grandchildren like her own, providing them with a strong foundation and becoming a cherished part of our family. She deserves a thriving wage, not poverty wages. Marina faced similar challenges, raising her children without grandparents nearby, underscoring the diverse struggles New York’s families encounter where it comes to dependable child care.It is insensitive and reflects a troubling ignorance of the daily struggles of working parents who juggle unpredictable work schedules and insufficient income without the luxury of a reliable family safety net. It is the same tired argument of making do with what you have, of “my grandparents raised me, why can’t yours do the same?” The Senator loves to tell the story of abuse and poverty that he experienced growing up, yet he offers no real solutions that could benefit other people and families with similar experiences.
Instead, Senator Vance calls for deregulating the employment of child care providers. His false claims that child care educators require a six-year college degree show that he doesn’t have the knowledge or does not care to form positions based on facts about the landscape of early education. Child care is not merely about keeping children safe; it is about fostering their growth, socialization, and development during their most formative years. Child care professionals – who are underpaid and undervalued – play a critical role in developing engaged, capable members of society. Instead of deregulation, we should be investing in support and recognition for this dedicated workforce, ensuring they remain in the field. Undermining their role jeopardizes not only the quality of care our children receive but the availability of programs so that children have the foundational experiences that prepare them for future educational success and civic participation.
Former President Trump’s approach is equally troubling. His assertion that tariffs will somehow generate enough economic growth to reduce child care costs is a reckless fantasy. He claimed, “As much as child care is talked about as being expensive, it’s, relatively speaking, not very expensive compared to the kind of numbers we’ll be taking in.” This is a nonsensical position that points toward Trump’s fiscal track record, marked by massive deficits, underscoring his failure to offer practical solutions that encompass the broader educational landscape.
On the other hand, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz plan on investing more in the early care and learning field both in the form of investment in the workforce and in families. During the pandemic, early care and learning were supported with the American Rescue Plan funding. That is the type of funding that ought to be continued. The same applies for the child tax credit that assists families financially. And, even though these proposals are closer to what families need, they too need to be more explicit about investing in child care as a public good, one that all families can enjoy.
Some of these national proposals highlight a critical disconnect from the real struggles families face. Here in New York, even with a democratic governor, we are still waiting for action. Currently, despite claims of understanding and her role as a champion of family issues, Governor Hochul has yet to sign into law legislation that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. With such severe threats at the national level, we need our governor to act swiftly and sign the legislation that removes barriers to accessing child care assistance for families, one that eliminates minimum earnings and one that separates parents’ working hours from getting assistance.
As voters, we must demand leaders who not only understand these critical issues but are committed to taking action to address these issues. The choice is ours: we either elect people whose views and values are meaningfully aligned or we continue to face inaction. The future of our children, the well-being of our working families, and the integrity of our society depend on it.
Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O’Malley are co-executive directors of the Alliance for Quality Education in New York.
SEE ALSO:
Budget Stabilization For Child Care Has Expired And That Should Distress Us All
Congress Must Work With Directly Impacted People On Any Solution To The Child Care Crisis
