Committee Activity

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship will hold a hearing titled, “Taking Care of Business: How Childcare is Important for Regional Economies.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 6, 2020 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

When quality childcare is affordable and accessible, the impacts are felt by families, businesses, and regional economies. Breakdowns in childcare arrangements cost working families $8.3 billion in lost wages, and businesses nationwide lose more than $4.4 billion per year due to employee absences resulting from breakdowns in childcare arrangements. Access to childcare supports regional economic growth because it has a positive impact effect on workforce participation providing small firms with a productive and talented pool of workers. With affordable accessible care, employers report fewer absent workers, less turnover, increased stability in the workforce, and more satisfied workers. This hearing will explore the role of childcare in stimulating regional economic growth.

To view a livestream of the hearing, please click here. 


Hearing Notice 

Hearing Memo 

Witness List 

Witnesses 
Ms. Cindy Cisneros
Vice President, Education Programs
Committee for Economic Development of the Conference Board (CED)
Arlington, VA
Testimony

Mr. Dan Levi 
President 
Levi Architecture, PLC. 
Cedar Falls, IA

Ms. Sarah Piepenburg
Owner
Vinaigrette
Minneapolis, MN
*Testifying on behalf of Main Street Alliance
Testimony 

Dr. Veronique de Rugy
Senior Research Fellow
Mercatus Center
George Mason University
Arlington, VA
Testimony 

*Witness testimony will be posted within 24 hours after the hearing’s occurrence