President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that has 50 new directives to enhance child care access and support caregivers in the country.
The executive order also mandates agencies to expand their caregiving services for veterans and boost the remuneration for caregivers.
By taking this step, Biden appears to be attempting to realize some of the social programs that he has been unable to achieve due to a divided Congress since he assumed office in 2021.
He made this announcement during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, while it is anticipated that he will reveal his bid for re-election soon.
Executive Order Aims To Improve Access to the Care Industry
Biden signed the order on Tuesday, April 18, aiming to focus on increasing access to high-quality child care, long-term care, and support for caregivers.
According to CNN, the executive order includes over 50 directives aimed at enhancing child care access and improving the work lives of caregivers and is being called the most comprehensive set of actions any administration has taken so far in this area.
During a speech at the White House, President Biden stressed the importance of the care economy to the overall economy and the difficulties that working- and middle-class families face in providing care for their loved ones, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized that the executive order does not require new spending, but rather aims to ensure that taxpayers obtain the best value for their previous investments.
By signing this executive order, Biden hopes to increase access to affordable and high-quality child and elder care, as well as expand support for caregivers, including providing additional compensation for their work.
This is an important step towards recognizing and addressing the needs of the care economy and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in the economy.
Existing Commitments To Fund New Care Directives
According to the Associated Press, Susan Rice, the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, stated that President Biden's executive order demonstrates that he is not relying solely on Congress to take action.
Rice remarked that the child care and long-term care systems in the United States are ineffective and that providing high-quality care is costly, labor-intensive, and necessitates skilled workers.
Despite this, care workers, who are mostly women, women of color, and immigrants, are some of the lowest-paid workers in the country.
During the start of his presidency, Biden presented a proposal for $225 billion in funding to cover child care expenses for lower-income families and $200 billion for two years of universal prekindergarten, as per Barron's.
However, the legislation prioritized infrastructure and environmental initiatives over social programs, leading to their exclusion.
Nevertheless, with this executive order, the Biden administration aims to enhance child care services for the children of federal workers, including military families.
The order also aims to provide better home-based care for military veterans and raise pay and benefits for teachers and staff in the Head Start program without requiring new funding.
Rather than seeking new funding, the directives are set to be financed through existing commitments, which may include legislation passed last year that provided funds for infrastructure projects.
As a result, their impact is likely to be limited and more symbolic of what is feasible.
Biden has also called for more funding for the care economy in his 2024 budget proposal, drawing a clear contrast with Republicans who want to limit spending.
