Congressman Pat Ryan Joins Community Leaders, Parents, Educators for Roundtable Discussion on Childcare Affordability & Accessibility in the Hudson Valley

Congressman Ryan joined Hudson Valley parents, childcare providers, educators and other community stakeholders at DAY ONE in Poughkeepsie to discuss the cost and availability of local childcare

In 2025, 70% of parents reported that raising children had become "too expensive," a 13-point increase from the previous year

The conversation comes as Hudson Valley families continue to face the high cost environment across the board; it also follows a Trump Administration attempt earlier this year to withhold critical childcare funding from New York State

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - Congressman Pat Ryan - a father of two and member of the Congressional Dads Caucus - joined local parents, childcare providers, educators, and other community stakeholders at DAY ONE in Poughkeepsie to discuss the cost and availability of childcare in the Hudson Valley.

The conversation follows a Trump Administration attempt earlier this year to withhold critical childcare funding from New York and other Democratic-led states - despite the fact that in 2025, 70% of parents reported that raising children had become "too expensive," a 13-point increase from the previous year.

Among the main concerns discussed were the rising cost of care, retention in the childcare industry, and parents struggling to remain in the workforce and raise their children.

The meeting also comes as Hudson Valley families continue to face the high-cost environment across the board. Throughout his time in office, Congressman Ryan has made lowering costs his number one priority - whether it's groceries, utilities, housing, or healthcare.

"I know as well as anyone that being a parent is beyond a full-time job. At a time when Hudson Valley families are working as hard as they can, doing everything right, but still can't afford basic necessities, the last thing they should have to worry about is making sure their kids are well taken care of," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "I fought back hard when Trump tried to rip away childcare funding from our community - but there's still a lot of work to do. I heard from parents unsure how much longer they can make ends meet and from providers who love taking care of kids but are left with no option but to switch professions in order to pay their bills. Childcare isn't a luxury item - it's a necessity for so many parents, but the system is broken. I'm proud and grateful to get to collaborate with these community members on how we can lower costs for families in the Hudson Valley and beyond."

"Parents, providers and teachers from both sides of the river described the same impossible math: families who can't find care they can afford, and providers who can't pay their teachers enough to keep the doors open," said Geraldine Laybourne, co-founder of DAY ONE Early Learning Community. "Congressman Ryan came to listen, creating space for participants to speak openly and honestly about what they're experiencing. What he heard in Poughkeepsie is being lived in communities across this country, and affordable, high-quality childcare is an issue where both parties find common ground. New York is treating childcare as public infrastructure, and Dutchess is one of the first three counties building it. What gets solved here can become a template everywhere else."

"High-quality early childhood education is the foundation that allows children, families, and communities to thrive. At Community Family Development, we see every day that investing in early childhood education is not simply an investment in our youngest children-it strengthens families, supports working parents, and builds a stronger local economy. We are grateful to Congressman Ryan for his ability to listen, learn and work towards tangible solutions that make affordable childcare accessible to folks in the Hudson Valley," said Jaime Hyla, CEO of Community Family Development.

"For the first time, the people working hands-on in childcare were given the opportunity to speak directly about the challenges they see every day for providers and families with young children. It was refreshing to have the ear of a congressman who was genuinely willing to listen and hear our concerns. Having a seat at that roundtable was significant, because meaningful change in childcare can only happen when we listen to those on the front lines. Ultimately, our goal is to create a system that truly serves the best interests of our most vulnerable population-our babies and young children," said Marisol Hoffman of Feels Like Home Childcare.

In early 2026, several states, including New York, faced freezes on Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars due to bogus Trump-originated federal fraud investigations, threatening subsidies for over 10 billion dollars in social services.

For many American families, childcare is now the single largest household expense, often exceeding mortgage or rent payments. The national average for full-time center-based care for an infant has reached $14,802 per year in the US. Childcare costs in New York are among the highest. While the Department of Health and Human Services suggests childcare should cost no more than 7% of a family's income, single parents currently spend an average of 35% of their income on care, and married couples spend approximately 10%. In 2025, 70% of parents reported that raising children had become "too expensive," a 13-point increase from the previous year.

The lack of child care is a primary driver of workforce participation issues - approximately 81% of parents who struggled to find care in 2025 reported that it directly impacted their ability to work.

The supply of care is dwindling as providers struggle to remain solvent while paying competitive wages. More than 50% of Americans live in a "childcare desert," where there are more than three children for every one available slot. Nearly 40% of childcare providers report current staffing shortages. The median hourly wage for child care workers remains stagnant at $15, leading to a 70% difficulty rate for workers in meeting their own basic needs like food and housing.

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