Companies that get federal subsidies should be required to provide child care

Activists gather in Washington, D.C. to advocate for sweeping federal legislation that includes affordable child care, universal paid leave, and accessible in-home care for disabled and aging persons. (Leigh Vogel/Getty)

It is no secret that the cost of child care has increased so much that it is forcing some parents to quit their jobs in order to be able to care for their children. I wrote about this in a recent op-ed in the Sun-Times that urged politicians on both sides of the aisle to come together and find a way to help families.

While legislative efforts are pending, the Biden administration reportedly plans to leverage the federal government’s investment in the semiconductor industry to ensure that employers provide affordable child care. The Commerce Department announced that any semiconductor manufacturer seeking part of $40 billion in new federal subsidies will need to guarantee affordable, high-quality child care for workers who build or operate a plant.