North Raleigh Today

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many sectors of the economy and a North Carolina senator is trying to help at least one area with financial support. 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is a co-sponsor of a bill that would help child care providers with federal aid short-term and ensure the operations receive the funding quickly "without administrative red tape," he said in a July 23 statement posted to his website. 

"COVID-19 has caused considerable strain and major disruptions that the school closures this spring have placed on our children, parents, teachers, and communities in North Carolina," Tillis said in his statement. "This commonsense legislation would provide federal assistance for child care providers so they can continue to offer critical, affordable child care for working mothers and fathers in North Carolina and ensure they have the support needed to protect the health of children and staff."

The legislation offers financial support for nine months for child care providers that will open in a safe environment, according to highlights of the legislation posted on his website. It would also let states create plans to help support child care centers and mandates that providers benefiting from federal assistance to follow state and local regulations.