Senator Helming To Governor: Release The CARES Funding For Childcare

State Senator Pam Helming today demanded that New York State release $69 million earmarked for childcare in the Federal CARES Act. This funding was given to the state several months ago. The CARES Act allocated $70 million to support childcare in New York, but so far, reports indicate that only $1 million has been used. Many daycares are struggling to survive and parents need childcare to return to the workforce.

“Local families are struggling right now to find safe and affordable childcare. The continued uncertainty regarding school reopening is adding to this stress. Childcare is essential to getting people back to work and our economy restarted. This funding was intended to support childcare and ensure that parents would have a safe, more affordable option as they return to work. Parents should not have to make the choice of whether to go back to work or quit their jobs and take government assistance because affordable childcare is not available. It is critical to get these federal funds distributed and put to work for the sake of working families” said Senator Helming. 

New York State has received $7.5 billion in CARES Act funding. Of that federal funding, $5 billion was for state use and the remaining funds for select localities across the state.