February 2024

Co-Chairs Sanchez and Steiner; Vice-Chairs Girod, Gomberg, and Smith; and Members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means:

We are writing to express our collective support for the CHIPS Child Care Infrastructure Fund (HB 4098). We know that accessible and affordable childcare for families plays a vital role in supporting our workforce and economy, and we strongly urge your support.

We are working Oregonians, and many of us work to support our families. Every day, we see the impact that childcare makes in ensuring a strong and vibrant workforce in every sector. The data speaks for itself: 27% of all people who are not working say they aren't looking for work because they need to provide care at home. And of those who choose to stay home to take on the burden of childcare, a disproportionate amount are women.

HB 4098, which establishes the CHIPS Child Care Infrastructure Fund, represents a significant step forward in addressing the childcare challenges we are facing. By appropriating $5,000,000 from the General Fund, you can jump-start this fund, which will serve to develop and administer a child care infrastructure grant program, provide financial support for the construction workforce, and facilitate public-private partnerships. Once established, the fund will be sustained by investments from partnerships with CHIPS Act grantees, creating a model for how the federal government, states, and businesses can collaborate on strategic investments that bolster our economy.

We strongly urge the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to adequately fund HB 4098. By doing so, we can expand access to affordable childcare, support the needs of working families in Oregon, and continue to build a better, brighter future for our children.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.