President Biden is taking steps to fulfil his promise during his campaign by signing an executive order to make child care more affordable and accessible.
This order, set to be signed on Tuesday, will direct federal agencies to find ways to streamline the delivery of childcare services, making it easier for families to access high-quality care.
White House officials have described this executive order as the most comprehensive effort by any president to address the challenges facing the childcare and long-term care systems in the United States.
Susan E. Rice, the director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, stated that the order includes over 50 directives to various agencies to fix the childcare and long-term care system.
One of the key aspects of the order is to lower co-pays for childcare services through certain agencies, making it more affordable for families.
In addition, the order will explore ways to optimize the use of Medicare and Medicaid funds to ensure they are utilized effectively. The order also aims to improve care for veterans and Native American tribes by examining new approaches.
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However, it’s worth noting that the order does not fully achieve the goal President Biden initially proposed at the beginning of his presidency: to provide $225 billion to fully cover child care for low-income Americans, along with an additional $200 billion for universal preschool. These proposals did not gain enough support in Congress, and the administration shifted its focus to infrastructure and environmental spending.
Despite the challenges, President Biden remains committed to increasing government spending on child care as it is stated in The New York Times.
Susan E. Rice emphasized that the current budget proposed by President Biden includes significant investment in child care, but the administration is also taking immediate actions to increase access to care and support care workers and family caregivers.
Some of the directives in the executive order may take time to yield results, as they require the development and enactment of regulations and guidance documents. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services is directed to consider issuing regulations to improve the quality of home care jobs, which will require careful consideration and implementation.
However, other provisions may see more immediate action. For instance, the Department of Veterans Affairs is directed to consider expanding its veteran-directed care program to all of its medical centres, which could have a more immediate impact in supporting veterans in accessing personal care assistance.
President Biden is scheduled to sign the executive order in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday afternoon as he continues to work towards making child care more affordable and accessible for all Americans.
