{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-and-omar-lead-effort-to-lower-childcare-costs-and-empower-working-families", "Menendez and Omar Lead Effort to Lower Childcare Costs and Empower Working Families", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) introduced the Parental Workforce Training Act, legislation establishing a $10 million federal pilot program to help parents afford childcare while enrolled in workforce training. This legislation would provide grants to local workforce development boards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to subsidize childcare for training participants.\n\n\u201cExpanding access to affordable childcare and giving parents the ability to pursue workforce training are vital for working families and for our economy,\u201d said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). \u201cAt a time when the Trump Administration is increasing costs for our communities, I\u2019m grateful to Rep. Omar for partnering with me to strengthen early childhood development and support the families and communities that power our nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAffordable childcare can be the difference between getting trained for a better job and being pushed out of the workforce entirely,\u201d said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05). \u201cThis bill gives parents a fighting chance to skill up, re-enter the workforce, and build stability during an incredibly uncertain time. I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Menendez in ensuring working parents aren\u2019t left behind.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents in workforce training shouldn\u2019t have to choose between caring for their child and building a better future for their families,\u201d said Melissa Boteach, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. \u201cThat\u2019s why we applaud Rep. Menendez and Rep. Omar for introducing the Parental Workforce Training Act, which expands child care access for parents pursuing employment training through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. This bill is a practical, high-impact solution that helps parents complete the education and training they need to succeed in the workforce, while ensuring their young children have the care they need.\u201d\n\nThe Parental Workforce Training Act directs the United States Secretary of Labor to award grants to local workforce boards to help individuals cover the costs of childcare services. It also tasks the Secretary with submitting a report to Congress on the impacts these grants have on enrollment and completion rates in workforce training programs.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez also introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress.\n\nThe legislation was co-sponsored by Reps. Andre Carson (IN-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Rashida Tlaib (MN-12).\n\nFor full text of the bill, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-and-omar-lead-effort-to-lower-childcare-costs-and-empower-working-families"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.682932022958994, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}