Shaheen Highlights Need for Additional COVID Relief during Virtual Meeting with NH Child Care Providers & Advocates

Shaheen’s virtual discussion with New Hampshire child care providers and advocates can be viewed here.

(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) hosted a virtual meeting with New Hampshire child care providers and advocates to discuss the challenges the child care sector continues to face during the COVID-19 pandemic. Granite State working parents rely on child care providers to provide high-quality care and education for their children so they can maintain employment and support their families. However, providers in the state and across the country have been severely impacted by the fallout of the public health and financial crisis and many are at risk of permanent closure, threatening New Hampshire’s economic recovery and the ability of working families to fully return to work. During the event, Shaheen heard more from participants on what they are experiencing on the ground and provided an update on her efforts to secure the relief providers need to keep their doors open and support families.

Shaheen’s virtual discussion with New Hampshire child care providers and advocates can be viewed here.

Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to assist the child care sector, which has been among the hardest hit the pandemic. In the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law last month, Shaheen successfully included language that provided billions of dollars in urgently needed relief for child care providers. Last night, Shaheen participated in a call with Brian Deese, head of the White House’s National Economic Council, and a bipartisan group of Senators to discuss President Biden’s proposed COVID-19 stimulus package. During the call, Shaheen highlighted the necessity of providing additional financial support to child care providers to allow them to continue operating, and support New Hampshire’s economic recovery.

“Our discussion this morning made clear what’s at stake in New Hampshire and across the country if Congress does not act to pass additional relief for the child care sector,” said Shaheen. “The economic devastation wrought by the pandemic has forced many providers throughout New Hampshire to reduce hours and cut staff, and many are facing threats of permanent closure. Ensuring working families have access to affordable child care must be one of the pillars of any upcoming COVID-19 economic stimulus package. This is a priority I will continue to fight for as negotiations with the Biden administration and Senators on both sides of the aisle continue.”