FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2023
Contact: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden-Harris Administration announced a White House Proclamation declaring April as Care Worker Recognition Month, marking the White House’s continued commitment to investing in a care infrastructure and highlighting the generations-long fight of care workers – the Black, brown, immigrant, and women of color whose work makes all other work possible – to gain the recognition, living wages, and protections they deserve.
Today’s proclamation comes at a critical time when our families recognize the growing demand for affordable care; families, caregivers, and care workers urgently need a robust care infrastructure for our future. Further, this decision is a historic signal demonstrating the country’s leadership is listening to voters—particularly Black and brown women voters—who overwhelmingly supported President Biden’s care investment plan across party lines.
Care in Action is excited that the Administration continues to make care a critical issue the country needs to address. This proclamation is a result of the committed fight workers have put forth and dedication to the workers who care for our loved ones. Further, today’s proclamation is a national acknowledgment of what care workers have known all along – that care is essential, and care can’t wait.
Hillary Holley, Executive Director of Care in Action, said,
“Care in Action is incredibly excited to join the Biden-Harris Administration in recognizing our care workers for April, now ‘Care Worker Recognition Month.’ This proclamation dedicates a month to the vital care workforce, a workforce that is predominantly women – especially Black and brown women and immigrant women – who take care of our elders and loved ones with disabilities and who made their voices and their needs heard at the polls. The timeliness of this decision raises the urgency to address our care crisis. Families are having to choose between caring for their elders and loved ones with disability and buying groceries or paying their rent. That is not ok. That is not a thriving economy. We are now looking at our country’s leaders and Congress to witness the continued bipartisan support to strengthen our care agenda and support our families, care workers, and caregivers across the country.
We’ve said it time and time again, care can’t wait, and neither can we— an intergenerational Movement composed of Black and brown women unpaid and underpaid caregivers. We are ready to take this to the ballot box come 2024. This year, we look forward to witnessing progress toward improving our care economy and reducing the financial strain the care crisis has placed on our families, caregivers, and care workers – who all deserve care. We’re looking closely. We’re calling for action.
The unpaid caregiving economic value is estimated at $600 billion; women, especially Black and brown women, often undertake generational caregiving. Unpaid caregiving is rooted in this nation’s history and the devaluation of care work. Caregivers and families deserve a robust care infrastructure – that allows them to re-enter the workforce, pursue educational attainment, and rely on a strong, cared-for care workforce. But, this proclamation and the FY 2024 budget demonstrate that the Administration is expressing its continued commitment to the care agenda.
Everyone will need care at one point in their lives – everyone deserves the right to affordable, accessible, and reliable care. The demand for care is only growing, and care workers are trying to fill in the gaps, but they’re reaching a breaking point. Care workers across the country do unseen, arduous, and sensitive work that requires human connection, patience, and strength. They’re some of our nation’s most demanded professions, yet, they lack basic protections, a livable income, and equitable access to care.
Therefore, this April, let’s focus our attention on the care workers – let’s acknowledge the necessary work they do and the valuable care they deliver to our loved ones.
In addition to this proclamation, we’re ready to see transformative solutions – and so are the country’s voters, 89% of whom support increasing government funding for home and community-based services.
We are grateful for our care workers who make all the other work possible. We see the caregivers who prioritize their families and often de-prioritize themselves. Their time has come. Let’s recognize their value, fight for their justice, and continue our work to ensure care is a national priority.
Care is bipartisan. Care is the unspoken agreement in being a human.”
Care in Action is the policy and advocacy home for women who care, working on behalf of more than two million domestic workers and care workers across America. Among the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, domestic workers are also among the most vulnerable and undervalued. As a mostly women and majority women of color workforce, this growing constituency consistently and overwhelmingly supports progressive values in American political life. Learn more at www.careinaction.us.