What Biden’s American Families Plan will look like for Washingtonians

April 28, 2021 5:40 PM

Alex Crescenti,

Posted: April 28, 2021 5:40 PM

Updated: April 28, 2021 5:46 PM

by Alex Crescenti

SPOKANE, Wash. — As president Joe Biden approaches his 100th day in office, he is set to give his first address to a joint session of Congress. Among the topics he will talk about, he is expected to talk about his proposed American Families Plan. That includes investments for families in places like childcare and preschool.

The $1.8 trillion plan calls for investments in universal pre-K, capping child care costs, 12 weeks of paid leave and extending the child tax credit.

“It’ll make resources available to them that they can use for other purposes to support their families and their children,” said Lee Williams, CEO of Community Minded Enterprises in Spokane.

Washington Senator Patty Murray the issues included in the plan are among the most pressing in the country.

“Stabilizing our child care sector so we can make it a little easier for families and especially our essential workers to navigates work and home in this incredibly hard time,” said Murray.

Currently, Washington doesn’t have universal pre-K, but the Biden plan would provide it for three- and four-year-old children. States would be responsible for 10% of the funding initially, but that would gradually grow to 50% over time.

“This state has been dedicated to expanding state funded pre school for some time, but there have been, of course, some obstacles; some major ones that have gotten in the way like the pandemic.” said Williams.

Low income families would be completely covered for child care costs, while others would pay only a portion of their income, and the minimum wage for child care providers would be raised to $15 an hour.