Bipartisan McBath bill looks to boost childcare

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-GA, along with a bipartisan handful of other House members, has introduced legislation that aims to address the childcare workforce shortage. Nearly every state in the country is facing a childcare worker shortage, driven by a range of factors. In 43 states, workers make more money on average in retail sales than they do in child care. In Georgia specifically, average retail sales pay is some $2,200 higher than childcare. A survey in 2024 showed that more than half of child care center directors reported staffing shortages. The bill from McBath aims to incentivize and simplify the path to childhood education studies through grants and support of career pathway programs.