President Biden on Tuesday held a rally with care staff, the place he highlighted his administration’s efforts to increase entry to little one care and teased an upcoming effort to extend staffing requirements in nursing houses.
“You’re the heroes to so many people. You actually are. And also you signify so many individuals who do IT and do IT out of affection and concern, not due to the pay, as a result of they’re not getting the pay they want,” Biden mentioned on the occasion at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
“As your president I’m right here with a easy message. I offer you my phrase, I’ve your again,” he added.
The president spoke at an occasion hosted by Care Can’t Wait Motion, a coalition of groups targeted on increasing entry to little one care, paid household and medical go away and home-based providers. Representatives from the AFL-CIO, Service Workers Worldwide Union, AARP and Nationwide Home Staff Alliance attended, as did Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).
Biden spoke in regards to the American Rescue Plan, which handed with solely Democratic votes in 2021 and which he mentioned helped preserve 225,000 little one care facilities open because the nation grappled with the coronavirus pandemic. The laws additionally expanded the kid care tax credit score and helped drastically scale back little one poverty, Biden mentioned.
Biden final 12 months signed an government order to spice up compensation for care staff, help household caregivers and increase inexpensive care choices by way of 50 directives to federal businesses.
The president famous care staff are predominantly girls, girls of colour and immigrants “who’re overworked, ignored and underpaid. IT’s not sufficient simply to reward them for all they’re doing, we’ve to pay them.”
Biden on Tuesday additionally mentioned his administration plans to launch a brand new rule within the coming weeks to extend staffing requirements in nursing houses and get dwelling care staff a much bigger share of Medicaid funds.
He sought to distinction his efforts with a price range proposal from Home Republicans that may lower caregiving packages, leaving greater than 200,000 kids with out entry to little one care, in line with the White Home.
Tuesday’s rally coincided with April being Care Staff Recognition Month. Biden issued a proclamation in late March denoting the month and calling care staff “our nation’s hidden heroes.”
In a responding assertion, Republican Nationwide Committee co-Chair Lara Trump accused Biden of waging “a struggle on girls and households,” pointing to produce chain points with child components and rising prices.
“Republican financial insurance policies will as soon as once more help girls, dad and mom, and alternative for all — which is why households throughout the nation are rooting for a President Trump landslide victory on November 5,” Trump mentioned.
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