Congresswoman Newman names childcare worker as virtual guest at Biden State of the Union address

Rep. Newman invites Laura Maldonado, an SEIU HCII child care provider in the Archer Heights neighborhood of Chicago, who is encouraging President Biden and Congress to pass components of the Build Back Better Act, to be her virtual guest for the State of the Union Address Tuesday March 1, 2022

U.S. Representative Marie Newman of Illinois’ 3rd District is uplifting local Chicago child care worker, Laura Maldonado, as her virtual guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Tuesday.

A resident of the Archer Heights neighborhood in IL-03, Maldonado has been a licensed child care provider and a member of SEIU HCII for the past 13 years, working to ensure families on the Southwest Side have high-quality, affordable child care that will set their children on the right path to a successful future.

“When we invest in our child care workers, our entire community benefits. That’s why I am honored to lift up the story of Laura Maldonado, who has served as a hard-working child care provider on Chicago’s Southwest Side for more than a decade,” said Congresswoman Newman.

“Laura’s story is like millions of Americans across this country who want President Biden and Congress to pass components of the Build Back Better Act so that we can ensure every family has access to affordable child care and that every worker is receiving the fair wages and benefits they deserve. Nearly 60% of child care providers today are experiencing staff shortages — a 36% increase from before the pandemic. It’s time we deliver for care workers like Laura who have done so much during this pandemic. Care cannot wait and I look forward to President Biden on Tuesday laying out a path so that we can finally get this done.”

Archer Heights and SEIU HCII child care provider, Laura Maldonado, reading to children in her early childhood care program. Photo courtesy of Congresswoman Marie Newman

The State of the Union Address will highlight the achievements and work still to be done under the leadership of President Biden. While safety protocols mean this year’s in-person attendance will be limited, Congresswoman Newman said inviting Laura as her virtual guest is an important way to honor the people of Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District and uplift their stories.

As President Biden stated months ago, critical investments are needed to support early childhood care providers and educators, of whom more than nine in ten are women and more than four in ten are women of color. They remain some of the most underpaid workers in the country, which is why Congresswoman Newman and Laura are fighting to ensure Congress sends the child care components of the Build Back Better Act to President Biden’s desk.

“I am honored to serve as Congresswoman Newman’s virtual guest to the State of the Union as we both share a collective vision for a high-quality, affordable child care system that is designed for parents to thrive in their communities,” said Laura Maldonado. “The Build Back Better Act is an important investment in families and the child care workforce that would provide families with reliable, affordable child care and raise wages for child care workers, who are historically underpaid, and overwhelmingly women, and women of color.”

In November, Congresswoman Newman voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which would create more jobs, cut taxes for American families and lower health care costs for seniors. While this landmark legislation is still being debated in the Senate, Congresswoman Newman is imploring Senate leadership and President Biden to prioritize passing investments in our child care system that will support working families and increase wages for millions of workers.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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