West Seattle Child Care Provider is Virtual Guest for President’s Address

Jayapal’s selection honors child care workers across Washington and highlights how the American Rescue Plan is helping families 

SEATTLE — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) announced today that West Seattle child care provider Marji Hayner will be her virtual guest for President Joe Biden’s national address to the Joint Session of Congress, which will mark his 100th day in office. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Hayner to abruptly close her child care and preschool business — Marji’s House — after 34 years of serving the community. Like many families and businesses in need across Washington, she received federal relief from the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan. This included expanded unemployment assistance, survival checks, a PPP loan, grants for child care centers, and a Small Business Stabilization Fund grant. With this help, Hayner was able to reopen her child care business and hire staff. 

“Marji is one of the many incredible and dedicated child care providers across our state who selflessly serve our kids, our families, and our communities each day,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “My office was proud to help her receive the relief she deserved during this challenging time, and I am honored that she is joining me for President Biden’s address as we commit to continuing to deliver for workers, families, child care centers, and other small businesses across America.”

“After years of reliably, consistently, and lovingly educating and protecting children in our community, I suddenly had no income at all,” said Hayner. “But due to the outstanding funding I received in the form of a PPP loan, a couple of small CARES grants for child care centers, and a Small Business Stabilization Fund grant, I was able to continue paying my full time staff. In July, I reopened, and with an uptick in enrollment and the promise of more CARES grants and possible funding from a second PPP, I have now hired another excellent teacher.”

Earlier this year, Representative Jayapal fought to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and send it to President Biden’s desk. This was a bold relief package to meet the scale of this devastating crisis, put money directly in people’s pockets, and crush the virus. It included $1,400 survival checks per individual, $300 per week of expanded unemployment assistance, and a $3,000-$3,600 tax credit per child. The aid package also included $20 billion to ramp up vaccine distribution in communities across America. 

The American Rescue Plan included additional forms of relief for small businesses like Marji’s House. It increased PPP funding and eligibility by $7.25 billion while also providing $15 billion for COVID-19 emergency grants that go to small businesses. On top of this, the aid package had $39 billion for Child Care Development Block Grants including $635 million in child care funding for Washington state.

President Biden will address the nation on Wednesday as he finishes his first 100 days in office. He is expected to outline his American Families Plan, which includes additional investments in child care, working people, and small businesses across the country. As part of this proposal, Congresswoman Jayapal has already urged President Biden to make access to child care a universal benefit while providing support for the child care workforce and investing in child care facilities like Hayner’s.

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Issues: Civil Rights, Health Care