More than 70,000 Daycare Centers At Risk Of Closing When Federal Funding Expires, According To A Non-Partisan Think Tank

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Good morning,

Another late night at The US Open. At one point, the semifinal was interrupted by an environmental protester who "glued his feet to the cement floor,” delaying play for about 40 minutes.

Mosheh was there and got to see it all up close:

In the end, Coco Gauff beat Karolína Muchová in straight sets, and becomes the first American teenager to make it to the US Open finals since Serena Williams in 2001.

Have a good one!

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🎙The Mo News Podcast: Texas drops the tampon tax; Health insurance costs are taking the biggest jumps in years; NYC Mayor Eric Adams says the migrant crisis will “destroy” NYC; Maine lobstermen look to seaweed.

Listen Now

🗞 THE STATE OF CHILD CARE IN AMERICA

We recently reported on the unexpected and massive job gains made by women since the start of the pandemic. In fact, as of June, the percentage of women in the workforce with young children was at a record high.

Those gains are potentially at risk as pandemic-era funding for daycare providers expires at the end of September.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
Since November 2021, child care providers have had access to Child Care Workforce Stabilization grants.

The grants were meant to help stabilize the child care community by providing money to retain and recruit staff.
The money was allocated as part of the American Rescue Plan.
It was a two year initiative set to expire at the end of this September.

WHAT THAT MEANS
With this initiative ending soon, some are sounding the alarm about the detrimental impact it could have on American child care, an industry already in crisis.

▶︎ These are the findings from a new report from the Century Foundation, a progressive, non-partisan think tank. READ REPORT

70,000 child care programs are likely to close when the federal funds end.
3.2 million children could lose their spots.

TIMELINE: The Century Foundation says child care providers will try to stretch their budget as long as they possibly can. They expect the cuts and closures will likely pick up in the six to 12 months after the funding ends.

ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECTS
This would have ripple effects throughout the entire economy. Without affordable child care, the Century Foundation estimates that millions of parents would be forced to leave their jobs or to cut their work hours. And businesses would lose their valuable employees.

Families could lose $9 billion each year in earnings.
The loss in tax and business revenue will likely cost states $10.6 billion in economic activity per year.
The child care workforce, which has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, will likely lose another 232,000 jobs.

▶︎ STATE BY STATE

The impact would not be equal across all 50 states. Here are some specific findings:

In 6 states—Arkansas, Montana, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as Washington, D.C.—the number of licensed programs could be cut by half or more.
In another 14 states, the supply of licensed programs could be reduced by one-third.
In Texas, nearly 306,000 kids are set to lose their spot at daycare when nearly 4,000 facilities close.
In New York, 252,000 kids won’t have access to care when nearly 6,000 daycares shudder.

And experts say the child care and daycare centers that do survive could be forced to cut hours and/or raise prices.

In a recent survey from ParentsTogether Action, more than 50% of parents said they or a member of their household had to cut back on work hours or leave a job because they couldn’t find affordable and reliable child care.

WHAT CAN BE DONE
In the House, Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Nancy Mace have created a bipartisan caucus focused on the issue. They tell CBS News that as divided as we are as a country, 86% of Americans believe we need more support for affordable child care.

They say there are short term solutions and long term solutions. But the bottom line: for now, there does not appear to be enough support in Congress to continue funding the child care grants.

✔︎ Mo News Reality Check: Even with this funding in place, most experts said the United States is in a child care crisis.

Anne Hedgepeth, chief of policy and advocacy at Child Care Aware of America, says “the status quo with child care is not working.”

Unlike most developed countries, the US has no federal paid parental leave policy and provides limited access to subsidized child care.

And given the upcoming election season and the deeply divided Congress, it doesn’t look like anything substantial will change in the near future.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 In escalation, Adams says migrant crisis ‘will destroy New York City’. (NY TIMES)

📌 Hurricane Lee strengthens to monster Category 5 in Atlantic; Meteorologists still unsure whether it avoids US (CNN)

📌 Former Trump Adviser Peter Navarro convicted of contempt for defying Jan. 6 panel subpoena. (WASHINGTON POST)

📌 Federal court lets Texas leave barriers in Rio Grande river (NBC)

📌 21 people indicted and 90 dogs seized in Indiana dogfighting and drug trafficking investigation, US attorney says. (CNN)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Mexico's presidential election takes historic turn after both major parties select female candidates. (FOX NEWS)

📌 Manhunt is underway for UK terror suspect who escaped prison strapped under a truck (NPR)

📌 Key conspirator in Haitian leader’s killing pleads guilty in Miami court. (WSJ)

📌 China's widening iPhone restrictions, leads to concerns for US tech sector. (REUTERS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 Why US autoworkers are asking for a 46% wage hike (NPR)

📌 Maui beckons tourists, and their dollars, to stave off economic disaster after wildfires. (AP)

📌 Google previews Pixel Watch 2 and both Pixel 8 phones. (THE VERGE)

📌 Apple Event 2023: What we expect from the ‘Wonderlust’ iPhone 15 reveal. (TECHCRUNCH)

📌 Google Chrome is being redesigned for its 15th anniversary. (MASHABLE)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes. (BBC)

📌 Former and current employees allege ‘toxic work environment’ at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. (ROLLING STONE)

📌 Bruce Springsteen postpones all September tour dates due to illness. (VARIETY)

📌 Naomi Osaka says she's returning to pro tennis in 2024. (CBS)

🗓 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN WEEKEND

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Mosheh: NFL Week 1! & The Banshees of Inisherin on Hulu; Jill: The US Open Men’s semifinals today, Djokovic vs. Shelton at 3pm ET, Alcaraz vs. Daniil at 7pm ET.
WHAT WE’RE READING: Mosheh: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It~ Jennifer Breheny Wallace; Jill: Frances Tiafoe Wants Tennis to Loosen Up~ TIME
WHAT WE’RE EATING: Mosheh: Honey Deuce Drink; Frooze BallsVegan Energy Balls; Jill: The Good Crisp Company Potato Crisps