Office of Lt. Governor David Zuckerman
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31st, 2023
Contact
Lisa Gerlach
Chief of Staff, Office of the Lt. Governor
(802) 636-7047
Lisa.gerlach@vermont.gov
NEWS: Lt. Governor Zuckerman issues Statement on S.56, an act relating to child care and early childhood education
MONTPELIER, Vt: On Friday, Lt. Governor David Zuckerman released a statement following the successful passage of S.56, an act relating to child care and early childhood education, through the State Senate:
“Vermont’s childcare crisis is making Vermont nearly impossible for working families to afford to live in our state. With the average cost of childcare for a family being over $26,000 per year and the lack of available full-year slots in childcare programs, parents and caregivers are struggling to get the childcare they need so they can work to support their families. On top of that, early childhood educators are not paid a livable wage, and many have left the profession because they cannot afford to stay. Parents have been forced to leave the workforces to care for more than 8.00 children who are at home due to the shortage of available childcare. It’s long overdue that we take action to relieve some of the burden that the childcare crisis has put on the shoulders of working Vermonters.
“All families deserve access to high quality, affordable childcare. I am happy that S.56 has passed through the Senate, and I look forward to the continued conversation in the House. With this bill, we will bring thousands of people back into the workforce, thus helping our employers meet their staffing needs and helping our state economy grow. This bill is not only an investment in childcare, but also an investment in our workforce, our communities, and our future.”
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