HB 3167/SB 1619 Passage Deserves Praise

SPRINGFIELD-Following is the statement of SEIU Healthcare Executive Vice President Faith Arnold following passage in the Senate of House Bill 3167/Senate Bill 1619, authorizing a study of the child care and early education workforce:

“The chronic lack of pay for the workers who care for and educate young children in Illinois is a scandal. That’s why the state took an important step forward today with the passage of legislation to authorize an early childhood workforce study.

“Some providers have decades of experience as well as accreditation and degrees, yet only average $5 per hour, when expenses are factored in. Surely, we can do better.

“Gov. Rauner has expressed a commitment to early childhood education so we will take him at his word and urge him to use the data to help to repair the damage done to the Child Care Assistance Program, as well as help create a real training and professional development framework for the child care and early education workforce.

“Illinois has a long way to go to improve the system of care, which still faces many challenges, but today’s passage of HB 3167 deserves praise, as do its committed sponsors, Rep. Julianna Stratton and Sen. Jacqueline Collins.”