For the second straight debate the moderator failed to ask any questions about early childhood education and care. This is a dereliction of duty. The issue of childcare is not a niche issue. It is one of the biggest stressors across the country right now and intersects with every aspect of the economy and our nation. Moreover, it is an issue that is disproportionality impacting women.

Here are some highlights from recent research about this topic. “Women are three times more likely than men to not work during pandemic because of child care.” “According to USC’s ongoing coronavirus survey, job losses, additional child care duties and mental distress have all disproportionately affected women since the start of the pandemic.” “A new Center for American Progress analysis of the Household Pulse Survey finds that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Millennial mothers are nearly three times more likely than Millennial fathers to report being unable to work due to a school or child care closure. “Over 1.1 million workers ages 20 and over dropped out of the labor force in September 2020 – meaning they are no longer working or looking for work. Of the workers who left the labor force, 865,000 (80.0%) were women, including 324,000 Latinas and 58,000 Black women” The Center for American Progress found “Half of all parents report difficulties in adapting to online learning during the pandemic, and more than 4 in 10 parents say that they have been unable to return to work fully due to child care issues”

This is not even mentioning the stress and danger facing early childhood educators and childcare providers themselves during the pandemic or the stress of the children who have had their lives upended. Many small business owners have had to close their businesses because of government inaction and not getting bailed out like other industries. The House of Representatives recently passed The Heroes Act which would provide over 58 million dollars to the early education and care industry but there is little chance that it will pass The Senate and or be signed into law by President Trump. Moreover, even outside of COVID-19, research constantly has shown the birth-5 is the most important part of a person’s life and development and has long term impacts on their health and finances.

How can none of this come up in 2 straight debates especially when other issues get talked about over and over? The next debate must ask a question about childcare and early childhood education  or the American people will not be properly served by the debates.