Last week, in an effort to tackle an ongoing crisis that affects Iowa’s children, families, and workers alike, Senate Democrats are turning our attention toward one of Iowa’s most persistent issues: childcare.

Childcare is one of the single-largest expenses in the monthly budget for any growing family. Full-time care for an infant, for example, can rival annual in-state tuition at one of our Regents universities. A lack of robust childcare options represents a significant barrier for parents looking to re-enter the workforce and for Iowa businesses hoping to recruit and retain the state’s top talent.

At present, there is a roughly 50,000-slot gap between Iowa’s available supply of childcare options and its current demand. And, according to data from the Center for American Progress, nearly a quarter of Iowans live in a childcare desert. For rural families, that number expands to 35%.

Simply put, there are not enough affordable and accessible childcare options in the state to adequately serve Iowa’s families.

To tackle Iowa’s childcare crisis, Senate Democrats are introducing a legislative package to address two critical elements of the childcare equation: lowering costs and expanding accessibility.

To start, we have signed on to co-sponsor legislation designed to help Iowans afford childcare by expanding eligibility for state assistance to thousands of working families who do not currently qualify. Raising income eligibility from 160% of the Federal Poverty Level to 200% (and up to 240% for families requiring special needs care) will help more Iowa families access childcare and lower families’ monthly costs.

Another step in expanding eligibility and accessibility involves guaranteeing state childcare assistance as families grow. To that end, we are supporting the following two proposals:

The first ensures that children under 18 who have a child of their own are automatically qualified to receive state childcare assistance, instead of having to rely on their parents’ income to qualify. (SF122)

The second allows siblings to automatically qualify, ensuring parents can continue to access childcare assistance while their family grows.

Finally, to address Iowa’s ongoing struggle to grow and maintain childcare capacity, we are supporting a proposal designed to raise wages for childcare workers, allowing childcare centers to maintain staffing levels, improve affordability, and expand capacity. The proposal would double investment in the state’s current Child Care Solutions Fund pilot program. For every private dollar raised from the community, the state will provide two matching dollars. Investing in our childcare workforce is critical to expanding our capacity for care and lowering costs for Iowa families.

Childcare isn’t a partisan issue. It affects folks of every demographic and ideology. Together, we can create a better deal for Iowans, provide greater economic security for Iowa families, and reduce the structural barriers for Iowa’s workers all at the same time by finally adequately addressing Iowa’s childcare crisis.

Iowa Senate Democrats