U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) recently signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to increase the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) role in supporting for-profit child care small businesses.
“Quality access to affordable child care is essential for working parents across our nation,” Rep. Letlow said. “As a single mom, I see firsthand how important child care is in order for women to return to the workforce after having children.”
The Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act of 2023, H.R. 6156, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), would designate a full-time point person at the SBA who would be focused on supporting for-profit child care providers, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Letlow’s staff.
Additionally, H.R. 6156 would require the SBA to conduct a study on the needs and challenges of for-profit child care providers, identify what resources the SBA currently provides to them, and make legislative recommendations to address the challenges they face, the summary says.
“I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation so those parents can focus on going to work each day to provide for their families, and ensure child care providers have the resources needed to be successful and help move our economy forward,” said Rep. Letlow.
Rep. Landsman said that introduction of the bill aims to make life better for children and families by increasing access to quality, affordable child care.
“The U.S. Small Business Administration has a role to play, which is why our legislation would make sure there is a point-person at the federal level whose focus every day is improving child care in our country,” he said. “Our legislation also requires SBA to study the child care crisis inside and out so that Congress has the information it needs to fix this crisis.”
H.R. 6156 has been referred to the U.S. Small Business Committee for consideration.