U.S. Department of Labor Kicks off National Childcare Reopening Tour in Denver, Colorado

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau Laurie Todd-Smith traveled to Denver, Colorado, with Senator Cory Gardner and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump underscoring the importance of childcare as the nation’s economy safely reopens.

Advisor Trump, Senator Gardner and Director Todd-Smith toured Bright Beginnings Childcare & Preschool to learn more about new measures being taken to ensure the safety of staff and children. Following, Director Todd-Smith led a roundtable discussion on the important role childcare centers play as part of the nation’s economic reopening.

“For many Americans who have faced unemployment because of the pandemic, getting back to work means having access to child care,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Ivanka Trump’s visit to Colorado highlights this issue and the importance to working families of re-opening child care centers and schools.”

“As we battle the coronavirus and safely reopen the economy, working families need access to reliable and safe child care,” said Women’s Bureau Director Laurie Todd-Smith. “Today’s visit highlights the importance of quality childcare in that pursuit, but also the success of the SBA PPP program. Bright Beginnings is a woman owned business that received a PPP loan and as a result, was able to maintain operations while retaining 90% of its staff. Child care providers are the workers behind the workers as they allow for increased workforce participation by women.”

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.