U.S. Senator Joni Ernst announced on Apr. 16 the introduction of the Helping Ensure Reliable Opportunities (HERO) in Child Care for Military Families Act, a bill aimed at improving access to quality and affordable child care for servicemembers and their families.
The legislation seeks to address ongoing challenges faced by military families, including staffing shortages and long waitlists at day care centers. It proposes creating a Child Care Readiness Data System to monitor capacity, staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover in military child care facilities. The bill also aims to streamline hiring processes for child care providers by reducing administrative requirements and expanding the pool of eligible candidates.
“As our servicemembers balance dedication to their families with serving our country, access to child care options shouldn’t be an additional barrier,” said Sen. Ernst. “As a mother and grandmother who served in uniform, I understand all too well the unique challenges military families face. My HERO Child Care for Military Families Act provides commonsense, bipartisan solutions to cut through the red tape, better understand the shortages, and reduce hiring delays so our military families have the support they need in every season of life.” Rep. Jen Kiggans said that “access to reliable, high-quality childcare is essential for the readiness and well-being of our service members and their families.” Rep. Sara Jacobs described how many military families must rely on informal networks due to lack of information about available child care: “That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan and bicameral HERO Child Care Act… Our bill will arm us with the data we need to make substantive improvements.” Rye Barcott from With Honor endorsed the legislation saying it “recognizes the sacrifices our military families make…and provides the support they need to ensure mission success.”
Senator Ernst’s office assists Iowans with federal agency matters such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, immigration issues, and military affairs according to her official website. She served over 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard where she achieved lieutenant colonel rank according to her official website. She was raised on a family farm in Montgomery County where her parents taught values of hard work according to her official website, became Iowa’s first woman elected federally according to her official website, earned degrees from Iowa State University and Columbus State University according to her official website, serves on multiple Senate committees while advocating fiscal responsibility according to her official website.
While traveling across Iowa visiting local child care centers as part of previous efforts supporting affordable options statewide—such as leading bills that expand non-profit provider eligibility for Small Business Administration loans—Ernst has consistently advocated policies designed both locally within Iowa communities as well as nationally.
