U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, mother, and grandmother, introduced the Helping Ensure Reliable Opportunities (HERO) in Child Care for Military Families Act to help servicemembers more easily access quality, affordable, and consistent child care.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) joined her in leading this legislation. The bill would help combat staffing shortages and day care waitlists that military families face by establishing a first-of-its-kind Child Care Readiness Data System to track capacity, staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. The legislation would also make hiring child care providers more efficient by streamlining several requirements, reducing hiring delays due to red tape, and expanding the hiring pool.
“As our servicemembers balance dedication to their families with serving our country, access to child care options shouldn’t be an additional barrier,” said Sen. Ernst. “As a mother and grandmother who served in uniform, I understand all too well the unique challenges military families face. My HERO Child Care for Military Families Act provides commonsense, bipartisan solutions to cut through the red tape, better understand the shortages, and reduce hiring delays so our military families have the support they need in every season of life.”
“Access to reliable, high-quality childcare is essential for the readiness and well-being of our service members and their families. By addressing staffing shortages, reducing waitlists, and strengthening hiring flexibility, the HERO Act takes an important step forward and gives military families the support they need,” said Rep. Kiggans. “I am proud to join Senators Ernst and Shaheen, and Congresswoman Jacobs, in this effort to streamline data transparency at the Department of Defense and improve access to reliable childcare.”
“The military child care crisis is severe – and the lack of information is so dire – that many military families in San Diego and across the country have to rely on word of mouth and Facebook groups to learn about waitlists, vacancies, and more. I’ve heard countless times about how the lack of sufficient child care affects their mental health, focus, and job performance, but often these anecdotes aren’t as convincing as hard data,” said Rep. Jacobs. “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan and bicameral HERO Child Care Act to change that. Our bill will arm us with the data we need to make substantive improvements to military child care.”
