As a mom who juggled family, paid work, and serving her community when her three kids were little, Ruth knows how difficult it is to support a family and pay for good childcare. So, when Ruth first ran for the Senate in 2018, she promised to help working families get the support they need to make ends meet, including access to high-quality, affordable childcare. Last year, with the passage of Act 76 Vermont’s Monumental Childcare Law, Ruth fulfilled her promise.
As a lead sponsor and chief architect of Act 76, Ruth worked tirelessly to ensure the legislation is well-crafted and comprehensive. Act 76 provides financial assistance to working and middle-class families so they can afford childcare, childcare programs so they can improve and expand, and early childhood educators so they can earn higher wages and access training. Over the past year, with the security provided by Act 76, childcare programs have been opening or expanding throughout the state, giving families more options and ensuring parents can both work and care for their kids.
On Saturday, Ruth spoke at the grand opening celebration of the Red Clover Children’s Center in Middlebury, whose financial future is reliably secure thanks, in part, to her efforts to pass Act 76. The program serves 24 infants and toddlers, which is the most difficult and expensive care to find. Red Clover is an excellent addition to the high quality childcare programs in Addison County. Ruth noted:
“Supporting childcare programs is good for kids, young families, their employers, and our communities. And, by the way, it’s good for gender equality too!”
We have more work to do. We need to re-elect Ruth to the Vermont Senate, so she can continue to be a champion for childcare, families, and our communities. Thank you for your support!
Ruth for Vermont 