Biden to sign executive order aimed at child care access

The New York Daily News - 4/18/2023

President Biden on Tuesday will sign an executive order aimed at expanding access to affordable child care, the White House said, a largely symbolic move that comes with Congress stalled on the issue.

In a statement, the White House said the order amounts to the “most comprehensive set of executive actions” on child and family care a president has ever taken.

But the hodgepodge of directives — which includes an order to the Health and Human Services Department to explore ways to reduce families’ co-payments for child care — come without promises of new federal funding.

Biden’s call at the outset of his presidency for a combined $425 billion to cover child care and preschool for American youngsters remains unfulfilled. And many of the provisions outlined by the White House appeared largely symbolic.

The Biden administration said in the statement that the executive order serves as an effort to take expedited action as Congress considers the White House’s budget proposals.

The executive order will also demand a review of child care subsidy policy from the Office of Personnel Management, and prompt the Pentagon to move to lower child care costs at military bases.

The executive order is also intended to support veterans and the elderly, and includes more than 50 directives, according to the White House.

The president was scheduled to sign the executive order at an event with caregivers, educators and advocates. He was also set to deliver remarks on the effort in the White House Rose Garden about 2 p.m.

“President Biden believes that we must secure significant new federal investments to transform care in this country,” the White House said in its statement. “That’s why he and Vice President Harris called for investments to support high-quality, affordable child care, preschool, and long-term care in their fiscal year 2024 budget.”

“While Congress considers those proposals, the President is taking immediate action,” said the statement.