Summary of HRES 1617: Expanding the Care Economy
Overview
This House resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the federal government has a duty to dramatically expand and strengthen the nation's "care economy" - the systems and infrastructure that provide care services for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Key Provisions
The resolution makes the following key declarations:
- The care economy is critical to the overall health, well-being, and economic security of families and communities across the United States.
- The federal government must make major new investments to:
- Increase access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early childhood education
- Expand home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities
- Improve compensation and working conditions for care workers
- Provide paid family and medical leave for all workers
- These expansions of the care economy should be treated as essential public infrastructure, on par with physical infrastructure like roads and bridges.
- Strengthening the care economy will boost economic productivity, promote gender equity, and better support vulnerable populations.
Potential Impact
If passed, this resolution would signal strong Congressional support for significantly expanding federal programs and funding related to care services. It could lay the groundwork for future legislation to allocate substantial new resources towards childcare, elder care, disability services, and supporting the care workforce.
However, as a resolution it does not directly authorize or appropriate any new funding. Its primary effect would be to establish a sense of Congressional priority and commitment to dramatically strengthening the nation's care infrastructure.
Procedural Details
HRES 1617 was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 17, 2024. It has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor for consideration. A companion resolution, SRES 938, has also been introduced in the Senate.
As a simple resolution, HRES 1617 requires only a majority vote in the House to pass, and does not require action in the Senate or the President's signature to take effect.