House Republicans Block Access to Affordable Child Care
April 19, 2022
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3375
CONCORD – Today, in a party line vote, Republican members of the House Children and Family Law Committee voted Inexpedient to Legislate on SB 144. SB 144, prime sponsored by Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) sought to implement a 3-month pilot program to provide enrollment-based reimbursement to child care providers who accept child care scholarships through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan for New Hampshire. The bill will next go before the full House for a vote.
After the vote, prime sponsor Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) issued the following statement:
“Our working parents are struggling to access safe and affordable child care while our businesses are suffering from significant workforce shortages. This was a simple policy change supported by child care providers, DHHS, and most importantly, working parents. This would have been a win for employers and a win for families. I am extremely disappointed that my House Republican colleagues turned their backs on months of bipartisan collaboration, the testimony of working parents and child care providers, and our best tool for stabilizing our economy. I will continue to advocate for access to safe and affordable child care and am hopeful that the committee recommendation will be overturned on the floor of the House.”