Democrats introduce bill to help federal workers cover childcare costs during shutdown | Democrats

Congressional Democrats are introducing a invoice that would supply childcare aid to federal employees affected by the shutdown of the federal authorities, because it drags on by way of a second week.Dad and mom can be reimbursed for charges paid to childcare amenities throughout the shutdown underneath plans initiated by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.Any federal worker who has been furloughed, or stays working by way of the shutdown with out pay, can be entitled to assist underneath the Federal Employee Childcare Safety Act of 2025.The invoice authorizes the Common Companies Administration to obtain official documentation for childcare bills from federal employees to use for reimbursement.“If you discuss to federal employees proper now, a whole lot of them are exhausted. They’re pleased with what they do, however they’re uninterested in being handled like their lives are expendable,” Omar stated in a press release on the invoice.“This administration has made it clear it’s not fascinated by standing up for employees – however I’m,” she added. “As a working dad or mum, I do know the significance of getting dependable childcare. This invoice is a small however obligatory technique to present that their work and their households matter.”About 100 childcare facilities beforehand operated in GSA-managed federal areas, offering childcare for 1000’s of kids every day, however the so-called “division of presidency effectivity” eradicated the GSA workplace that managed these amenities earlier this 12 months.Co-sponsors of the invoice embrace the congressional Democratic representatives Pramila Jayapal, Summer season Lee, Gregory Meeks, Jerry Nadler, and Rashida Tlaib.A report from the Financial Coverage Institute in March famous that childcare is costlier than hire in 17 states and Washington DC”, with the common value of childcare for an toddler in Washington DC at $2,363 per thirty days, the very best common value within the US.It comes as Donald Trump’s administration makes an attempt to pin blame on Democrats for the shutdown, repeating false claims about funding healthcare for undocumented individuals. “Democrats ought to merely cease placing unlawful aliens earlier than the American individuals and reopen the federal government,” stated Abigail Jackson, spokesperson for the White Home in an electronic mail.However Democrats insist that is unfair. “The Home hasn’t held a vote now for eighteen days,” Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democrat chief, wrote on social media on Tuesday. Mike Johnson, the Republican Home speaker, “is CAUSING—and NOT INTERESTED IN ENDING—the shutdown”, Schumer claimed.Omar’s invoice is the newest proposed by Democrats to assist federal employees affected by the federal government shutdown. One other invoice, launched final week, would supply backpay for employees at federal contractors affected by the shutdown.skip previous publication promotionSign as much as This Week in TrumplandA deep dive into the insurance policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administrationPrivacy Discover: Newsletters could comprise details about charities, on-line adverts, and content material funded by outdoors events. For those who do not need an account, we are going to create a visitor account for you on theguardian.com to ship you this text. You’ll be able to full full registration at any time. For extra details about how we use your information see our Privateness Coverage. We use Google reCaptcha to guard our web site and the Google Privateness Coverage and Phrases of Service apply.after publication promotionDemocrats have additionally criticized the Trump administration after experiences they’re threatening to withhold pay for furloughed federal staff regardless of present laws and former steering from the Trump administration.Omar launched the same invoice in 2019 in response to the newest authorities shutdown. It was her first invoice introduction as a member of Congress.Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the biggest federation of labor unions within the US, wrote a letter to the US president on Tuesday demanding an finish to the federal government shutdown. “Your administration appears to be including much more ache onto working individuals by selection over the course of this shutdown,” she wrote, citing actions akin to threatening firings, cancelling infrastructure grants, and threats to withhold backpay from furloughed employees.“Our livelihoods shouldn’t be used as pawns or bargaining chips, whether or not it’s threatening one set of employees after one other, canceling building initiatives, or jacking up electrical energy costs on high of upper medical health insurance premiums,” Shuler added. “We implore you to satisfy with the leaders of the Home and Senate to discover a resolution that funds the federal government, fixes the healthcare disaster, and places working individuals first.”Fast GuideContact us about this storyShowThe finest public curiosity journalism depends on first-hand accounts from individuals within the know.When you have one thing to share on this topic, you possibly can contact us confidentially utilizing the next strategies.Safe Messaging within the Guardian appThe Guardian app has a device to ship recommendations on tales. 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