President Joe Biden is gearing up for his reelection campaign with a renewed focus on reshaping American life through proposals aimed at lowering the cost of child care, expanding preschool opportunities, and making home aides more accessible to the elderly. These initiatives, once part of his Build Back Better agenda, are now being described as “unfinished business” by his top domestic policy adviser, Neera Tanden.
As Biden faces criticism for inflation, his team sees an opportunity to promise lower costs for the “sandwich generation” – those balancing responsibilities for young children and aging parents. The care economy proposals could be particularly impactful for women, who often face challenges balancing caregiving with work.
Despite facing resistance on Capitol Hill, Biden remains committed to pouring billions of dollars into paid family leave, child care subsidies, universal preschool access, and home care for the elderly and disabled. The challenge lies in convincing Americans and lawmakers that caregiving is not just a private issue but an economic one with far-reaching benefits.
While legislative hurdles have stalled progress, the White House has been exploring alternative avenues to advance Biden’s agenda. The administration has implemented executive orders to raise pay for teachers and lower costs for families receiving child care subsidies. However, the ultimate goal remains ambitious legislation that addresses the financial challenges faced by families in need of caregiving support.
As Biden dusts off his pitch for the upcoming election, his focus on bolstering the care economy will be central to his campaign message. With a personal connection to the issue, Biden is determined to provide families with more breathing room by tackling the high costs of child and elder care. Despite the uphill battle in Congress, the administration is pulling out all the stops to make progress and improve the lives of American families.