News Department

Gottheimer announces new legislation to make childcare more affordable for NJ families

Fights back against Administration's Plan to Shut Down Department of Education

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) Tuesday joined local leaders at the Little Learners Childcare Center to announce new actions as part of his “Affordability Plan for Jersey.”

This includes legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit and incentivize entrepreneurs to provide more childcare options for families. Gottheimer also announced his strategy to fight back against the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Education.

 Skyrocketing Childcare Costs: 

  • Since 2019, the average cost of childcare is up 32 percent.
  • Childcare in New Jersey is the second most expensive in the country.
    • In Bergen County, on average, childcare costs families more than $17,460 a year — $442 each week. For families with infants, the cost is even higher — as much as $19,500 a year.
  • For a minimum wage earner in New Jersey, childcare can cost more than fifty percent of their annual salary.
  • New Jersey parents are expected to lose more than $378 million dollars in expected earnings as they are forced to cut work hours or leave the workforce altogether to care for their children.
  • New Jersey lost 250 childcare centers during the pandemic from 2020 to 2021 during the pandemic, only worsening the childcare shortage and increasing costs for families.

Gottheimer’s New Actions to Bring Down the Cost of Childcare:

  • First, Gottheimer is sponsoring the American Family Act to expand the Child Tax Credit to $300 per month, or $3,600 per year. This is up from $2,000 per year for children ages 6 to 17.
    • For families with children below the age of 6, that amount will increase to $360 a month or $4,320 a year.
    • This legislation will provide monthly payments so families don’t have to wait until the end of the year for help.
    • The bill includes a “baby bonus,” which gives an additional $2,000 to new families, regardless of when their child was born.
  • Second, Gottheimer is reintroducing the LITTLE Act, which will more than double the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to $7,500 for one child, and $15,000 for two or more.
    • That’s up from $3,000 and $6,000, respectively.
    • This refundable credit will also be tied to inflation.
    • The legislation will also create a new tax credit for start-up childcare centers to ensure families have more access to more affordable childcare.
  • Third, ahead of next month’s government funding deadline, Gottheimer is writing a letter to congressional leadership and the House Appropriations Committee stressing the importance of childcare funding and urging them to commit to not cutting any childcare-related funds.
  • Finally, Gottheimer will stand alongside countless others across the state and the nation and make it clear that President Trump should not be allowed to shut down the Department of Education — an agency that provides critical support for early childhood development and families across Jersey.

“Childcare is one of the biggest expenses a family can have — costing up to 50 percent of their monthly budget. That’s half your paycheck on childcare alone, before factoring in the cost of commuting, taxes, and other expenses like rent, food, and diapers. From our nurses and teachers to firefighters — everyone is struggling to make ends meet,” said Gottheimer. “If we invest in our children when they are young, from childcare centers to pre-school, to kindergarten, and on, it will pay long-term dividends for us and our country. We just can’t let far-right extremists deny what our families need. There should be nothing partisan about investing in our childcare and our children’s futures. We must make childcare — and life — for families here in Jersey more affordable.”

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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