The next US president should endorse publicly funded child care for all — or a $1,000 monthly credit for families with young children that don’t utilize it — according to a possible early blueprint for Democrats.
The proposal is among the first ideas published as part of Project 2029, a collection of recommendations by think tanks, former Democratic staffers and other progressive figures. The effort is directed by Chad Maisel, a former adviser to President Joseph Biden and Senator Cory Booker, who’s now a senior fellow at left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress.
Under the plan, the federal government would offer families two choices for each young child under 5: a free public daycare slot, or a stipend of $1,000 per month, meant to offset the costs or lost income associated with parent- or relative-provided care.
States would work to develop networks of approved daycare providers, which could include neighborhood centers, houses of worship, home-based providers and schools. While children from families at all income levels would be able to enroll in these free seats, only those earning less than $400,000 per year would be able to claim the stipend, the plan says.
Project 2029 — a nod to Project 2025, the influential policy manual from the conservative Heritage Foundation — seeks to influence Democrats’ platforms. The inclusion of a child-care plan reflects the widening appeal of free, universal options for parents seeking care for young children.
