Media Contact: Allie Wright, [email protected], (202) 794-1823

Denver (February 6, 2018) – Colorado Speaker of the House Crisanta Duran, alongside Republican co-sponsor Senator Beth Martinez Humenik and Democratic co-sponsor Representative Faith Winter, introduced a bill yesterday to expand the income tax credit for child care expenses to help make quality child care more affordable and accessible to working families in Colorado.

The bipartisan bill would expand the current income eligibility for the tax credit from those earning $60,000 in adjusted gross income to $150,000, making the credit more available to both low-income and middle-income families. Families can apply the income tax credit toward expenses incurred for child care that allow the caregivers to work or look for work.  

Save the Children Action Network President Kris Perry praised the bill and its focus on making quality child care more attainable for all of Colorado’s children.

“Child care is an integral piece of the economic engine of a community,” she said. “By helping families access and afford quality care, we’re helping both generations reach their full potential.”

Speaker Duran has been a strong advocate for child care for Coloradans, sponsoring legislation throughout her time at the legislature, including HB14-1317, which strengthened the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP). The Speaker also highlighted the need for affordable child care to help keep Colorado parents in the workforce in her speech on the Opening Day of the 2018 legislative session.

The new bill, HB18-1208, was assigned to the House Finance Committee and will be debated by lawmakers in the coming weeks.

###

Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that no mother or child around the globe dies from a preventable disease or illness. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.