Community Gathers to Advocate for More Affordable Child Care

GREENFIELD, WI – Yesterday, community members, childcare providers, parents, and legislators joined together at the Greenfield Public Library to hold a public forum on the childcare crisis facing our state.

“Besides their mortgages, childcare is often the top expense for families with young children, and the cost has never been higher. At the same time, many providers are struggling to keep their doors open amidst rising operating costs. It’s a clear case of market failure, and our neighbors are caught in the middle.

“Noting this crisis, Democrats introduced Senate Bill 322 (Assembly Bill 317) in June 2025 to fund the Child Care Counts Program. The program provides direct payments to regulated child care providers, ensuring that providers remain open so that all Wisconsinites can continue to work. Unfortunately, this legislation has been stalled for over four months, with Republicans refusing to give the funding bill a fair hearing.

“The failure to lead by the majority party continues to create massive strains on our childcare industry here in Wisconsin. Though a mild investment was made in the latest state budget, it fell woefully short of the $480 million needed to continue the stabilization effort begun by Wisconsin years ago.

“Today, we are seeing more and more child care centers closing, teachers leaving their professions, and parents unable to find or afford safe spaces to place their children as they contribute to our workforce and economy. With Wisconsin’s Child Care Counts Program scheduled to expire in June 2026, it is imperative that the legislature act to maintain current centers and expand the number of available spaces for children across the state.”

About the Senators:

Senator Dora Drake (D) represents the 4th State Senate District encompassing the communities of Milwaukee, Shorewood, Glendale, and Brown Deer, and is also the Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus

Senator Chris Larson (D) represents the 7th State Senate District covering the communities of Milwaukee, St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee, Oak Creek, and Greenfield. Senator Larson also serves as the Chair of the Milwaukee Delegation of Democratic State Legislators.

Senator Tim Carpenter (D) represents the 3rd State Senate District, consisting of the cities of Milwaukee, West Milwaukee, West Allis, and Greenfield.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.