WASHINGTON, DC: Congresswomen Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51), who represent two of the largest military communities in the country, introduced bipartisan legislation to address simultaneous crises facing military families: the difficulty of finding and affording both housing and childcare. Specifically, the legislation would direct the military to study the feasibility of building multi-unit family housing constructions that include a childcare center. 

“Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for our country and our military families serve alongside them. We owe it to these families to ensure they are taken care of with basic necessities such as housing, healthcare, and childcare,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Navy spouse, and now a Navy mom, I know how important it is forour military families to have access to consistent childcare. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Jacobs in introducing this important, bipartisan legislation.”

“Having a safe and affordable place to live and raise your kids is a critical component of our national security; because without it, our service members can’t focus on their mission,” said Congresswoman Jacobs. “But in San Diego alone, the child care waitlist is 2,600 spots long and was recently up to 4,000. Many service members are sleeping in their cars or on friend’s couches because they can’t find housing. And if they’re lucky enough to find it, the housing options can have serious deficiencies that threaten the health and safety of families, especially young children. That’s why I’m so proud to introduce bipartisan legislation with my friend, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, to highlight the necessity for co-location of military child care and housing, so we can simultaneously address these crises. We need to continue thinking outside the box and pursue innovative solutions to improve the quality of life of our service members and military families.”

Reviewing the feasibility of including childcare centers in multi-unit family housing constructions is the first step in the process of addressing this long-overdue challenge impacting military recruitment, retention, and readiness. In 2021, the Department of Defense had only 727 available family childcare providers but needed 1,433 providers to meet the demands of military communities. This nearly 50% deficit emphasizes the significance of the Congresswomen’s bill and highlights the need to find effective childcare solutions for our military men and women. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

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