Sen. Ingwersen, Pres. Daughtry take child care listening tour to center in Biddeford

BIDDEFORD — On Thursday, October 16, Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, and Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, visited St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford, as part of the Statewide Child Care Listening Tour.

“As the Senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, I know that access to affordable child care remains a top priority across the district,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “This time of year, I have the opportunity to be in the district, listening directly to the folks who do this great work. They know what the issues are, and I am grateful for the chance to listen to them and zero in on what the actual problems are so that we can formulate a way to solve them. Affordable child care makes the economy and the community healthier and better. It’s good for the future of our state.”

Photo Caption: Pres. Daughtry and Sen. Ingwersen listen to staff, including Program Director Bill Hager, at the St. Louis Child Development Center in Biddeford.

Pres. Daughtry is currently conducting a Statewide Child Care Listening Tour that includes stops at community child care centers, public pre-K partnerships, Head Start programs and nonprofit organizations across the state. The goal is to spotlight innovative solutions, identify gaps in service and elevate the voices of those most impacted by Maine’s child care crisis. Parents, businesses and early educators are invited to complete a survey to share their experiences: www.tinyurl.com/supportkidssupportmaine.

The insights gathered will help inform future legislation and policy aimed at expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care for all Maine families.

Sen. Ingwersen has two child care-related bills that have been carried over to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature. LD 1728, “An Act to Establish the Maine Child Care Affordability Program Advisory Board,” seeks to establish a board to advise the Office of Child and Family Services on the Maine Child Care Affordability Program. The bill awaits further action and work in the Health and Human Services Committee. 

LD 1859, “An Act to Improve Access to Child Care and Early Childhood Education by Establishing Regional Resource Hubs,” seeks to establish, through contracts with community entities, early childhood learning and development resource hubs. Earlier this year, it received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Maine Senate. It now awaits funding on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Table. 

Additionally, Sen. Ingwersen plans to introduce “An Act to Secure and Sustain the Maine Child Care Affordability Program,” which was approved for introduction by the Legislative Council on October 23. As proposed, the bill would allow Maine to protect a proven strategy for stabilizing the child care workforce, supporting businesses and ensuring children of early childhood educators have access to high-quality care. It will be drafted, referenced and worked on in the Second Regular Session.

Sen. Henry Ingwersen is serving his second term in the Maine Senate. He is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, and he is a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. He represents Senate District 32, which includes Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

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