Moreno Advocates Shifting Child Care Funding to States, Faces Tight Race Against Brown
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno has expressed his support for eliminating federal funding for child care, proposing instead that states take on more responsibility. Moreno is currently in a close race against incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown, with a recent Washington Post poll showing Brown ahead by just one percentage point.
During a town hall meeting on October 14 in Steubenville, Ohio, a local mother questioned Moreno about his stance on child care investments to help parents return to work. Moreno responded, emphasizing his belief in “states’ rights,” advocating for reduced federal involvement and increased state autonomy to address local issues.
When pressed further by the attendee on whether he opposes federal child care investments, Moreno clarified, “I don’t support the federal government coming in and trying to solve every problem. Those problems are better solved by state government and county government.”
Currently, over half of Ohio’s child care funding is sourced from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant. However, a report by Family Voices Project indicates that nearly 60% of families in Ohio find child care costs prohibitive, suggesting potential challenges if federal grants are withdrawn.
Additionally, a Policy Matters report highlights that 39% of Ohioans live in “child care deserts,” regions where child care is either unavailable or unaffordable, a situation more prevalent in rural areas.
In contrast, Senator Brown has consistently advocated for increased federal support for child care. In 2021, he introduced the Building Child Care for a Better Future Act, aimed at helping child care providers enhance their services. The bill faced opposition from Republicans.
In 2023, Brown introduced the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, seeking federal assistance for child care providers in rural communities. This bipartisan bill is awaiting a committee vote.
A spokesperson for Moreno’s campaign did not provide a comment on this story.
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