AUGUSTA - Last week, Rep. Kelly Noonan Murphy, D-Scarborough, joined lawmakers from across the country at the annual White House States Convening on Child Care held in Washington, D.C. The event, which included over 60 legislators from 34 states, featured panels and lectures about increasing access to affordable child care and improving job quality and retention rates for workers within the industry.
"Child care is integral for so many Maine families and our societal infrastructure," said Murphy. It is at the root of all that we do. Reliable child care helps to promote economic growth, enhance education outcomes and build strong communities. I was honored to have been invited to the White House, where I got to hear ideas and policies firsthand from lawmakers in other states. I was also able to share some of the legislation that we've successfully implemented here in Maine, like the Child Care Tax Credit.
Since her election to office in 2022, Murphy has sponsored a number of bills to support Maine families. Such legislation includes a measure that increases access to electronic breast pumps for nursing mothers by establishing reimbursements through MaineCare, which was signed into law in 2023. Additionally, she introduced a bill to eliminate the sales tax on diapers, aiming to ease the financial burden on young families when buying essential supplies for their children."
Supporting Maine families is at the heart of my work as a legislator, and I look forward to working with my fellow lawmakers in Augusta to continue enhancing the resources available for parents and their children, said Murphy.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Murphy], c. 305-965-2744
Photo: Rep. Murphy (Center, middle) is joined by fellow attendees of the White House States Convening on Child Care in Washington, D.C.