Can Americans resolve partisan divides to create a national child care system?

Judy Woodruff:

Over the past several days, we have looked at America's broken child care system and some of the programs trying to address the challenges.

In this final part of our series Raising the Future: America's Child Care Dilemma, special correspondent Cat Wise and producer Kate McMahon examine a key question confronting the country: What now?

Cat Wise:

It's the busy lunchtime hour at Sehnert's Bakery & Bieroc Cafe in downtown McCook, Nebraska. The man behind the counter is Matt Sehnert.

Matt Sehnert:

And our figure eights, very popular.

Cat Wise:

He's a fourth-generation baker who won a James Beard Award a few years ago.

Matt Sehnert:

This is a family tradition.

Cat Wise:

Sehnert says there are a lot of ingredients needed to run a successful business, and, for him, reliable workers are key. He has about 30 employees. And over the years, some of his staff have had to quit due to child care challenges.

Matt Sehnert:

Our people have to be here to make the product. They have to be here on time every day to make the product, because our patrons expect rolls and doughnuts and breads and sandwiches to be here. And when there's not adequate child care, it causes problems.

Cat Wise:

Sehnert is one of the many Americans who have been impacted in some way by the country's patchwork child care system, which cost the overall economy an estimated $57 billion a year before the pandemic.

Matt Sehnert:

I am a registered Republican. As a businessperson, my mind goes to investment. And I think that child care is an investment. Obviously, from the parent, that needs to be part of it, but maybe the rest of us need to be part of it, too.

Cat Wise:

Should the rest of us chip in for child care?

What would a national child care system look like? In the wake of the pandemic, those are some of the many questions being discussed and debated across the country in homes, boardrooms, and Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden's message? Child care is as essential to the national economy as bridges and roads.

President Joe Biden:

The American Families Plan will provide access to quality, affordable child care.

Cat Wise:

He is pushing for sweeping reforms that include free child care for low-income parents, reduced fees for middle-income earners, a $15 minimum wage for providers, universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and paid family leave.

The U.S. is the only industrialized country that does not have a national paid leave policy. It's an issue we heard from parents about, including child care advocate and author Elliot Haspel.

Elliot Haspel:

I believe very strongly that the first few months of life should be — all parents have the opportunity to have paid family leave to be with their child.

Cat Wise:

During her confirmation hearing, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the U.S. is falling behind other countries.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen:

Where we stand out is that the United States does much less on the front of child care and paid leave than most other developed economies.

Cat Wise:

The U.S. ranks 35th out of 37 wealthy peer nations in percent of gross domestic product spent on early childhood programs. Iceland spends the most, nearly 2 percent of its GDP, but the U.S. spends less than half-a-percentage point.

To boost the ratings, it will take a big investment. According to one report, it would cost $140 billion a year to provide high-quality care for all kids from birth to 5.

Woman:

Now a group of Democrats is urging President Biden to go big and help lower the cost of child care.

Cat Wise:

In this era of hyperpartisanship, child care has become another hot-button issue on cable news.

Steve Doocy, FOX News:

While our next guest says it wages a culture war against normal people.

Cat Wise:

And local news.

Charlie Shepherd, R-ID:

Any bill that makes it easier or more convenient for mothers to come out of the home and let somebody else raise their child, I just don't think that's a good direction for us to be going.

Cat Wise:

And as we traveled around America, from Oregon, to Nebraska, Mississippi to the nation's capital, we heard a lot of different opinions when we asked, what now?

Roberto Santos:

We already pay enough taxes. However, if they use the money that they're already collecting to help parents, it would be great.

Ethel Williams:

Child care, even when a person starts making a living wage, it shouldn't be taken away from them.

Olivia Pace:

I think that child care should be free.

Cat Wise:

How will America work through its child care dilemma?

This may be the moment the nation decides.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Cat Wise.