With the aim of promoting more affordable daycare and home care services, which in turn become work incentives, both for women and for workers from diverse and low-income communities, the President of the United States was in charge of signing the document that promote this reform.

Biden posted on his Twitter account:

The cost of child care and long-term care is too high. No one should have to choose between their parents, the children who depend on them, and the paycheck they rely on. I just signed an Executive Order that includes historic actions to increase access to high-quality care.

About the Order

“Early care and education give young children a strong start in life, while long-term care helps older Americans and people with disabilities live, work, and participate in their communities with dignity.  Access to both types of care is also critical to our national security because it helps ensure the recruitment, readiness, and retention of our military service members,” points out the press release.

The order, which includes more than 50 directives for cabinet-level agencies to take action to improve child care and the long-term care system, seeks to boost industry standards and expand federal coverage areas, improving transparency and access to home care services, including veterans.

“A sizeable majority of families and individuals in the United States who require care cannot access the affordable, high-quality care they need.  The markets for child care and long-term care for persons with disabilities and older adults who need support in their homes and communities fail to deliver enough high-quality care because of a persistent gap between the costs of providing this care and the prices families can pay,” is highlighted. 

Join me in the White House Rose Garden as I deliver remarks on improving child care, long-term care, and family caregiving. https://t.co/w2TsVDp6Ev

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 18, 2023

A compelling need

According to figures shared by the White House document, in 2019 more than three in four U.S. households that sought care reported difficulties finding the right care for their young children, and about the same proportion of child care providers turned away families because they lacked enough childcare spaces.

In addition, more than three in four long-term care providers have reported that they are unable to accept new clients, making it difficult for older Americans and people with disabilities to find the care they need.

The order also expresses the need for long-term care, especially as the nation's population ages, projecting that by 2060 there will be approximately twice as many adults age 65 and older as in 2016, and projections indicate that there will be about 8 million vacancies in long-term care over the next decade.

“If you live in a major city, you can pay more than $17,000 a year per child for child care. For many families, that’s more than you pay for a mortgage or a college education. It’s overwhelming.That’s why today I'm signing an Executive Order to make child care more affordable,” stressed Biden.