Gaydos Sponsors Bills to Help Make Raising a Family More Affordable
HARRISBURG – Following a childcare hearing she hosted in her district, Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) is advancing legislation aimed at helping Pennsylvania families manage the growing costs of starting and raising a family.
Gaydos has signed on as a sponsor of two bills included in the Pennsylvania Growth and Affordability Plan: the Pennsylvania Family Savings Account Act and the Pennsylvania Childcare Affordability Act. The legislation addresses concerns raised by parents, childcare providers and others about the financial pressures families face when paying for childcare, taking parental leave and preparing for the costs associated with having children.
“The message I heard clearly at the childcare hearing was families need more options and more financial flexibility,” said Gaydos. “Parents are working hard, but the cost of raising children can make it difficult to balance work, family and long-term financial security. These bills are a direct response to those concerns and would give Pennsylvania families additional tools to plan for and manage these expenses.”
The
Pennsylvania Family Savings Account Act would create a tax-advantaged savings account that could be used for qualifying expenses associated with starting a family, including out-of-pocket childbirth costs, fertility treatments, adoption, lost wages from partial or unpaid parental leave and childcare. Any remaining funds could be rolled into a 529 account or converted to a Roth IRA.
The
Pennsylvania Childcare Affordability Act would expand the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit by doubling available credits and creating a third level of credit for families with three or more children.
The legislation builds on the issues raised during Gaydos’ childcare hearing, where the affordability and availability of childcare were among the challenges facing working parents and families.
“Parents should not have to choose between working, building a career and being able to afford the care their children need,” said Gaydos. “What we heard at the hearing made clear that childcare affordability is directly connected to whether parents can work, whether businesses can retain employees and whether families can afford to stay and build their lives here in Pennsylvania. We need to continue turning those concerns into practical policies that give parents more choices.”
Both measures are part of the
Pennsylvania Growth and Affordability Plan, a package of proposals focused on lowering costs for families, encouraging business investment and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy.
Representative Valerie Gaydos
44th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437
rleiner@pahousegop.com