My Plan for Childcare and Working Families

For too many working families, the math simply doesn’t work anymore.

In Southern California, childcare now costs as much — or more — than a mortgage. Families are paying $20,000 to $30,000 a year just so they can go to work. That forces impossible choices: scale back hours, leave the workforce, or fall further behind.

That’s not a family failure. It’s a policy failure.

Childcare & Working Families: A System That Works for Parents

If we want people to work, build careers, and raise families, childcare has to be affordable.

My 3-Step Plan to Support Working Families

1. Childcare Savings Accounts for Working Families
Families should be able to save specifically for childcare expenses, tax-free — giving parents flexibility and predictability during the most expensive years of raising kids.

2. Expand and Simplify the Childcare Tax Credit
Families shouldn’t have to wait until tax season for relief. I support expanding and simplifying the Childcare Tax Credit so help is felt monthly, when childcare bills are actually due.

3. Support Employers Who Help Families
I support tax credits for employers that provide onsite childcare or partner with local providers — helping parents stay in the workforce while strengthening local businesses.

Childcare isn’t a luxury. It’s infrastructure for working families.

Families shouldn’t have to choose between a paycheck and childcare.