Rep. Katherine Clark: Health crisis exposes crucial role of child care - Milford Daily News/SHNS
By Katie Lannan
Congresswoman Katherine Clark says a lack of access to child care is “holding our economy hostage” and called for a shift in how the public views care and education of young children.
Speaking Thursday at an online Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event, Clark said child care should be thought of as a public good like transportation infrastructure rather than as a personal choice for parents.
“If the Zakim Bridge collapsed, the effects on the local economy would be immediate, devastating and obvious,” Clark said. “Every one of us would leap into action. We would make the necessary investments in resources because we know our ability to function hinges on it. The pandemic has shown us this is true for child care.”
Describing the current economic crisis as “the country’s first she-cession,” Clark said women have been especially hard hit by the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. In September, 865,000 women left the workforce, she said.
Clark said many women have been confronted with a choice between their jobs and caregiving responsibilities.