ATLANTA – State Representative Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn) today participated in the White House Convening on Child Care on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Rep. Glaize was invited to participate in several sessions focused on making child care more affordable for working families, expanding the child care workforce and improving job quality for child care workers.
“Quality child care and early education are the foundation to a resilient economy,” said Rep. Glaize. “Georgia wins the title as a top state to do business for nine straight years; however, businesses must have a skilled workforce. Georgia will shoot itself in the foot if we don’t invest in supporting working families with child care. There is bipartisan, bicameral work to be done.”
Rep. Lydia Glaize was joined by state leaders, including New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and more than 90 state legislators from 41 states across the country. First Lady Jill Biden joined the convening and provided closing remarks. Georgia House Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon) and State Representative Gregg Kennard (D-Lawrenceville) also participated in the convening. Members of President Joe Biden’s leadership team anchored sessions of the event, which delved into the newest state child care policies from across the country.
Recognizing the role of child care in supporting working families, Rep. Glaize intends to work with Georgia lawmakers to create comprehensive policies that address the challenges discussed at the White House’s convening. She recognizes the need to champion policies that ensure living wages, benefits, stable work hours and career advancement opportunities. Additionally, she aims to promote equitable access to affordable, high-quality child care for families while fostering a fair and sustainable environment for these essential workers to thrive.
“I believe that working families can only get ahead with proper child care, and for this to happen, workers in these facilities must have a decent wage,” added Rep. Glaize. “Insufficient income hampers their ability to meet basic needs and provide for their families, perpetuating financial strain for these essential workers. Furthermore, child care workers often lack access to benefits such as health insurance, paid sick leave and retirement plans. The absence of these vital benefits exacerbates financial hardship and compromises their ability to maintain a stable and secure livelihood.”
*Editor’s Note: A photo of Rep. Lydia Glaize, Minority Leader Beverly and Rep. Gregg Kennard is attached.
Representative Lydia Glaize represents the citizens of District 67, which includes portions of Coweta and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Education, Higher Education and Information and Audits committees.
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