In an oped for WGBH News, Professor Anne Douglass writes that as the 116th Congress gets underway, refiling the Child Care for Working Families Act should be on its to-do list.

Excerpt: “The financial burden placed on young families seeking quality care and education for their children isn’t sustainable. In a June 2018 survey of 1,657 registered voters nationally, 83 percent of parents with children under five had “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problems finding appropriate care. At 54 percent, even most voters without young children said that finding quality, affordable child care is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem in their area.

“That’s probably why support for greater public investment in early care and education is overwhelmingly popular across political divides and party lines. A 2017 survey found that 97 percent of Democrats, 87 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of Independents backed initiatives that would make early care and education more affordable.”

Read the full oped, “Early Education Should Be On The 116th Congress’ Agenda. Here’s Why,” online at WGBH News.