{"id":7355,"date":"2025-05-15T13:44:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T17:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/mccann\/?p=7355"},"modified":"2025-05-15T13:45:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T17:45:25","slug":"building-blocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/mccann\/2025\/05\/15\/building-blocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting Families First, Senate Democrats Introduce the \u201cBuilding Blocks\u201d Needed to Cut Costs, Create Opportunity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
Transformational package would help make parenting more affordable for families across the state and give young Michiganders the best start possible<\/i><\/div>\n

<\/i>LANSING, Mich. (May 15, 2025) \u2014 As the cost of everything from groceries and gas to health care and housing continues to rise under the Trump administration and its chaotic policies, the cost of raising a child is no exception. To provide much-needed financial relief to working families struggling to get by, Michigan Senate Democrats officially introduced a bold, transformative package today. Composed of Senate Bills 308<\/a><\/u>–313<\/a><\/u>, this plan would provide the \u201cBuilding Blocks<\/a><\/u>\u201d Michigan needs to make raising kids more affordable for families in every corner of the state.<\/div>\n
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The package takes a multi-angled approach to cutting the cost of parenting by:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  1. Providing a significant income boost to working families through a targeted Working Parents Tax Cut;<\/li>\n
  2. Expanding Rx Kids statewide, a first-of-its-kind program that provides cash payments to new mothers and their babies; and<\/li>\n
  3. Tackling the child care crisis from both the demand and supply side.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Cutting Taxes for Working Families<\/b><\/div>\n
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    In the first year alone, raising a new baby costs more than $20,000<\/a><\/u><\/span>, a staggering amount that is more than a third<\/a><\/u><\/span> of an average U.S. family\u2019s annual household income. And now the Trump administration\u2019s tariffs threaten to further exacerbate these costs by hiking up the price of parenting essentials<\/a><\/u><\/span> such as strollers, car seats, diapers, and bottles \u2014 the majority of which are manufactured in Asia.<\/p>\n

    To address the issue head-on and help families keep up with the high cost of raising a child, Sen. Kevin Hertel<\/b> (D-St. Clair Shores) introduced Senate Bill 308. This legislation would provide a tax credit of $5,500 for working families with children through the age of three.<\/p>\n

    \u201cRaising children is challenging to begin with, and now increased taxes in the form of tariffs and economic uncertainty are making it more expensive for families across Michigan,\u201d said Sen. Hertel<\/b>. \u201cAs a father of two, I see firsthand how rising costs of everyday essentials are adding up quicker than ever and forcing families to make difficult decisions. This tax credit would give parents some much-needed breathing room, so they can keep more of what they earn and focus on giving their kids the healthy, happy lives they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The Working Parent Tax Cut would be simple to apply and qualify for, extending eligibility to young families with incomes at or below 150% of the state\u2019s median, as defined by LIHEAP<\/a><\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Improving Families\u2019 Physical and Economic Health<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Rx Kids is a first-of-its-kind program here in the United States, initially launched in Flint<\/a><\/u><\/span>, Michigan, in 2024, before expanding to seven other communities across the state in early 2025.<\/p>\n

    The program supports parents and babies by providing all pregnant moms in a community, regardless of income, with a no-strings-attached cash allowance of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout the baby\u2019s first year. Research from Rx Kids<\/a><\/u><\/span> and similar initiatives shows that universal child cash transfer programs help increase housing security, bolster access to nutritious food, and improve maternal and child health. Growing on the work Sen. Cherry <\/b>championed in Flint, Senate Bill 309 would expand the opportunity for additional communities to participate in the program.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe\u2019ve seen the positive impact of Rx Kids in Flint, and we\u2019ve heard from parents across Michigan who want the same opportunity in their own communities,\u201d said Sen. Sylvia Santana <\/b>(D-Detroit). \u201cThis program gives babies a strong start in life and empowers parents with the resources they need to provide the love and nourishment every child deserves. Expanding Rx Kids means more families across Michigan can thrive \u2014 because every baby, in every community, deserves a healthy start and a hopeful future.\u201d<\/p>\n

    For a community to participate, they must raise two years of matching funds and contract with a third party for administration of the program. Administration costs are also required to not exceed five percent.<\/p>\n

    Tackling the Child Care Crisis<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    In the last decade, Michigan has lost 40% of its child care capacity \u2014 a level twice that of the national average \u2014 contributing to the state\u2019s 39th-place ranking for workforce participation<\/a><\/u><\/span>. This shortage of child care is cited as the top reason young workers are opting out of the workforce, which is costing the state an estimated $2.8 billion annually<\/u> in lost productivity and economic growth.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt takes a village to raise a child, but too many Michigan parents have been left to do it alone \u2014 and we\u2019re all feeling the impact. Without a robust child care system that works for parents and providers alike, our economy will lag, and our children will be robbed of the strong start they deserve,\u201d said Sen. Anthony<\/b>. \u201cThis plan will cut red tape for providers and bring us one step closer to an integrated, sustainable child care system that\u2019s accessible for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cFrom child care to the grocery store, rising costs are making it increasingly challenging for families to make ends meet,\u201d said Sen. McMorrow<\/b>. \u201cAs a mom of a young daughter myself, I understand the stress parents feel in trying to balance work and caring for your little ones all while desperately searching for any time to take care of yourself. This is why our new Building Blocks package is so crucial. By reforming our systems to make it easier to start and raise a family need, we can help families worry less so they can focus on what matters most: spending time with their little ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

    To tackle this crisis, Senate Bills 310-313 would make child care more affordable for families and more sustainable for child care professionals and entrepreneurs by:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n