Oakland, CA - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) today highlighted $3,756,521,773 in funding available for California child care providers to open safely, keep workers on the payroll and lower costs for hardworking families.

'The COVID-19 pandemic has created a childcare crisis on top of a public health crisis,' said Congresswoman Lee. 'Childcare providers are almost entirely women and 40 percent are people of color. Providing relief to help keep childcare centers and schools open is critical for our students, parents, educators, and care providers, and is essential to support our country's economic recovery and build back better. I'm pleased to see this funding come through for families and child care providers in the East Bay and across our state.'

The funding comes as part of two programs Rep. Lee advocated for within the American Rescue Plan:

• $2,313,166,479 from the child care stabilization fund to help child care providers to reopen or stay open, provide safe and healthy learning environments, keep workers on payroll, and provide mental health supports for educators and children
• $1,443,355,294 in more flexible funding for California to make child care more affordable for more families, increase access to high-quality care for families receiving subsidies, increase compensation for early childhood workers, and meet other care needs in the state.

The funding will go to the entire state of California, which will allocate it to specific providers and families.