LANSING — Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee defeated on party lines an amendment offered by state Rep. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit), which would have changed the payout structure for child care subsidies from hourly to a half-day, full-day or weekly model. The change would have better conformed to the industry standard of scheduling. In response, Santana issued the following statement:
“It is crucial that we have high-quality care being provided to our children. While parents are at work supporting themselves, their families and our state, they should have the peace of mind knowing that their children are properly cared for. With the federal increase in the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, we must use the funds we’re allotted to their greatest advantage. The more child care providers that are able to participate in this program, the greater access to quality care will be provided to our state’s children. I am disheartened that my Republican colleagues don’t agree with providing working parents this higher standard of care for our state’s children, and child care providers with more opportunities to participate in this program.”