Bill Overview
Title: Childcare DESERTS Act
Description: This bill allows recipients of Small Business Administration loans under the 7(a) loan program and 504 loan program to use such loans to provide child care services to their employees.
Sponsors: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Employees and their children in small businesses utilizing SBA loans for childcare
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The primary target population for the Childcare DESERTS Act is employees of small businesses that receive SBA loans, who will benefit from increased access to childcare.
- Many parents depend on reliable childcare to maintain employment, thus this bill affects working parents.
- The bill indirectly impacts children of employees who will have access to childcare facilities.
- It may also impact small business employers who will be able to offer childcare as a benefit, potentially improving employee retention and satisfaction.
Reasoning
- I considered the diverse perspectives within the defined target population for the Childcare DESERTS Act.
- The budget limitations suggest a need for selectivity in which small businesses can actually provide this childcare benefit, likely benefiting those in childcare deserts more.
- Cantril Wellbeing Scores were assigned based on perceived benefits from the policy for each individual, focusing on employees potentially affected.
- I included both directly and indirectly impacted individuals, and those not impacted at all to ensure a balanced view of the population's diverse opinions.
- Commonness scores indicate how typical each interviewee's situation is among small business employees in the US.
Simulated Interviews
Store Manager (rural Ohio)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy passes because having childcare on-site would remove a major stressor for me.
- Currently, I spend more than an hour commuting to get to a reliable childcare center.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Small Business Owner (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Providing childcare could be a significant perk for my employees and might help retain top talent.
- However, implementing this service comes with logistical and financial challenges even with the loan.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Marketing Specialist (New York City, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't impact me at all since I don't need childcare services.
- I can see how it benefits colleagues with kids, which is positive for the company overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Accountant (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative could ease the burden on travel-heavy occupations with childcare on-site or nearby.
- It's a step forward, but I worry if limited businesses will limit my access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my employer opts to offer childcare, it would be financially liberating.
- I'm a bit skeptical about how widespread the impact will be for urban-centered tech firms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse (Rural Kansas)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might finally give us reliable local childcare options, essential for staying in my job.
- Finding quality local childcare has always been a struggle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retail Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I won't be affected by this policy, as I don't have kids and my employer likely won't participate.
- It's good for those who need it, though it seems limited in scope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Portland, OR)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a freelancer, this policy won't directly influence my situation, since I'm not technically an employee.
- I do think it provides a needed option for small business communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cafeteria Worker (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm past needing childcare personally, but I support it for coworkers who struggle with the balance.
- This seems like a small step toward a bigger solution need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If my employer decides to provide childcare, it would significantly ease the financial and scheduling burden on my family.
- Currently, we're dealing with high costs and inflexible options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $3200000 (Low: $2100000, High: $4300000)
Year 3: $3400000 (Low: $2300000, High: $4600000)
Year 5: $3800000 (Low: $2600000, High: $5100000)
Year 10: $4400000 (Low: $3000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $6400000 (Low: $4300000, High: $8700000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of this act depends significantly on the willingness and ability of small businesses to incorporate childcare services.
- Regional disparities in childcare availability might complicate uniform implementation.
- Proper oversight is essential to ensure that SBA loans are used effectively and do not lead to misuse or fraud.