Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On May 3, 2021, saying that child care across Central New York is critical for families and essential for a full re-opening, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer stood at Here We Grow Child Care Center in Cortland County to announced that more than $1.8 billion from the American Rescue Plan he guided through the Senate is on the way to New York, with a sizable portion coming directly to Central New York, to help child care providers and employers – and parents – meet new and ongoing needs amid the pandemic. Schumer said that with COVID-19 greatly increasing demands for child care, the funds on the way will provide critical relief and real help for many local families.
“Since the start of this pandemic, day care and child care center advocates in Central New York have been sounding the alarm that these places are critical to our reopening and need help to survive,” said Senator Schumer. “Today, I can report that this critical relief is on the way. These new funds will provide real help for families, children and even job-seekers.”
Schumer explained that, now, local providers can keep their staff employed, reinstate staff that was laid off, and ultimately, ensure child care for many families who greatly depend on Central New York child care services. Some sites can even consider expanding to serve more area children and families because they will have these funds in hand. Schumer said Central New York is slated to get a sizable portion of the $1.8 billion dollars and that eligible parents will receive child care subsidies, including essential workers. Local facilities will be able to use these dollars to reimburse for expenses of the past year, too. PPE and other critical supplies that kept facilities open and operating within guidelines will also be eligible expenses, Schumer explained.
In detailing the funds on the way to New York and Central New York, Schumer explained they will be delivered to the state in two parts: 1) the Childcare Stabilization Fund -- $1.1B to New York, and 2) the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) -- $705M to New York.