Over the past several weeks the Biden administration has incrementally released proposed infrastructure policies under the title, "Build Back Better." The White House defines infrastructure to include human capital that under grid the functioning of the economy. (As Bryce Covert noted in yesterdays The New York Times, Lanham Act funds, initially used to fund infrastructure deemed critical to the war effort, eventually became used to build child care centers when it was learned children were being locked in cars because working mothers had no other options. Infrastructure policies that address the "care economy" are outlined in the administration's April 21 American Jobs Plan and their April 28 American Families Plan. The Jobs Plan includes proposals to expand Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers, extend the Money Follows the Person program and policies to expand and improve elder care jobs. Beyond paid family and medical leave and child related tax cuts, the American Families Plan proposes universal pre-school, free community college and related higher education supports expanded nutritional program policies. Among other realities, the absence of universal day care, along with no long term care and paid leave policies, largely explains why compared to similar counties women are significantly under-represented in the US workforce at a significant cost to overall economic performance. A recent AARP survey found one in five Americans, moreover women, served as a caregiver for an adult or child with health or functional needs in ’20. Concerning elder care workforce, this labor market is expected to grow by approximately two million jobs over the next decade plus in caring for a significant percent of the 25% of Americans who will be 65 or older in 2040.
This 30 minute interview begins with a brief explanation of The Arc's work. Ms. Jorwic goes on to moreover outline/explain provisions of the American Families Plan and the American Jobs Plan, discuses how the cost of these policies will be offset and the chances for Congressional approval.
Ms. Nicole Jorwic is the Senior Director of Public Policy at The Arc, a national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Prior to joining The Arc Ms. Jorwic served as Senior Policy Advisor for the state of Illinois. Prior to that appointment, she served as the CEO/President of the Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities where she continued the Institute’s mission to improve the lives of people with disabilities and assisted the leadership of the state of Illinois in developing public policy driven best practices in serving individuals with disabilities. Ms. Jorwic i a special education attorney and an advocate for students with disabilities, with a focus on transition-aged youth. Nicole received her JD and Child and Family Law Certificate, from Loyola University Chicago and received her BS from the University of Illinois. Nicole's sibling, her brother Chris, has been diagnosed with autism.
For information on The Arc go to: https://thearc.org/.
The administration's 15-page American Families Plan outline is at: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/WhctKJWQntDXPWTSKGmSvRdkQDZZGdFbkBMKMblcGFztpZqKwNkjXHzTzrTdkqczLNTNGgq?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1.
The administration's five-page American Jobs Plan outline is at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/21/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan-will-support-womens-employment/.
The Arc's Nicole Jorwic Discusses President Biden's Care Economy Proposals (April 28th)