Ernst Champions Access to Child Care for Military Families

WASHINGTON - Today, 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."

"When service members don't have reliable, affordable childcare, it causes stress that follows them into the field, onto the ship, into the cockpit, and ultimately on deployment,"said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. "The HERO Childcare for Military Families Act recognizes the sacrifices our military families make to serve this nation, and provides the support they need to ensure mission success. With Honor is proud to endorse this legislation, and we thank With Honor Senate ally Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, For Country Caucus member Rep. Jen Kiggans, and Rep. Sara Jacobs for their commitment to our military families."

Read the bill here.

Background:

While traveling River to River across Iowa, Ernst often visits child care centers and has long been a strong advocate for increasing access to affordable, high-quality child care in Iowa.

She leads the bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act that would allow non-profit child care providers, including religious organizations, to participate in Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, and the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act to help lower costs for hardworking Iowans and encourage businesses to invest in accessible child care options.

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