Members of Congress Join Virtual Launch Event at 1 pm ET Today. 70+ Federal and State Candidates Have Earned Seal of Approval as Program Launches.
America’s moms – along with families, businesses, and the nation’s economy – are struggling without high-quality, affordable child care. That’s why moms have come together to establish the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care, to identify candidates who will stand with families by advancing child care policy solutions that address affordability, accessibility, and quality. MomsRising Together, the online and on-the-ground organization of 1,044,000 mothers and their families, launched the new program today. Its ultimate goal is to help elect more officials who will advance child care to lift families, businesses, and our economy.
Finding quality, affordable child care is one of the greatest challenges facing young families. Child care costs more than public college tuition in many states, and nearly half of Americans live in child care deserts, where there is a significant shortage of providers. As a result, millions of moms and caregivers have been forced out of the workforce, jeopardizing their financial security, exacerbating our labor shortage and supply chain problems, and causing grave harm to businesses and our economy. At the same time, early educators are grossly underpaid, with many leaving the field because they can make higher wages in fast food or other sectors.
Today’s launch includes a virtual event featuring U.S. Reps. Jimmy Gomez (CA) and Nikema Williams (GA); videos from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Tim Kaine (VA) and Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark (MA); as well as remarks from state legislators and moms around the country. Join the event here; an archived version will be available afterward. The list of candidates who have earned the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care released today includes 70+ candidates from 16 states. It will be updated each week until the election.
“Moms, parents, and families across the nation are joining MomsRising in saying we are ready to Mom the Vote for child care. We will only end the child care crisis that is costing families, businesses, and our economy so dearly if we elect leaders with a real commitment to finding solutions,” said MomsRising Executive Director and CEO Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “We applaud every candidate who has earned the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care. Our future really is in their hands.”
MomsRising Together has also organized a Virtual Town Hall about the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care for Nevada moms this evening; and will hold in-person events on it in New York, North Carolina, and elsewhere in coming weeks. MomsRising members will display new lawn signs about the campaign this fall.
MomsRising Together created the mom-made, mom-approved Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care to raise the profile of child care as a campaign issue and to challenge candidates to commit to child care solutions that meet the needs and standards of America’s moms. It was developed with MomsRising parent leaders to raise the profile of the issue in the election and to tell candidates what a gold star child care plan looks like. All candidates in a race are eligible to receive the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care. Any candidate running this year can earn the Seal by committing to be a child care champion as laid out in the Moms’ Seal of Approval on Child Care commitment guidelines.. Candidates interested in being considered should fill out the Seal questionnaire.
Founded in 2006, MomsRising has more than a million members nationwide, including thousands in each of the 50 states.