• Broad national and ideological representation:
  The study reflects input from mothers in 47 states and across the political spectrum, supplemented by in-depth interviews capturing lived experience.
• Strong alignment on preschool access:
  Mothers across all political ideologies agreed that families should have greater access to quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
• Widespread support for childcare affordability:
  With the exception of some very conservative mothers, respondents overwhelmingly agreed that families should not spend more than 7% of household income on childcare.
• Support for federal–state cost sharing:
  Mothers across political backgrounds generally supported a funding structure in which the federal government covers 90% of childcare infrastructure costs and states cover 10% during the first two years.
• Mixed views on eligibility and workforce compensation:
  Mothers were divided on whether families earning less than 85% of state median income should receive free childcare and on whether childcare workers should be paid at parity with elementary school teachers.
• Overall support with ideological variation:
  While mothers broadly supported the bill, very conservative mothers were more divided on several provisions.

In September 2023, 354 mothers from 47 states and a cross-section of political ideology completed the survey and shared their views on the "Child Care for Working Families Act," (S.1354). Additionally, six mothers from conservative, moderate, and liberal political backgrounds participated in in-depth interviews to discuss their experiences related to child care and their opinions about this bill. We take this aggregate data and share it with the public and Congressional legislators so they are educated while deliberating over bills that can affect children and families. Mothers share their views based on their first-hand experience with the issues the bill seeks to address.

Count on Mothers is committed to representing mothers of all political ideologies on issues. Across ideologies, from very conservative to very liberal, the bill has one point of alignment among mothers; that there should be more access to quality preschool programs for families with 3- and 4- year olds. In addition, while very conservative mothers were split, mothers from across the political spectrum overwhelmingly believe that families should not pay more than 7% of their wages for child care, and that to help pay for child care the federal government should fund 90% of the costs of the infrastructure bill and the states should fund 10% for the first two years. Other components of the bill where mothers were split was regarding the belief that families that make less than 85% of the state median income should receive free child care and on believing child care workers should be paid the same as elementary school teachers with the same experience and credentials. Overall, mothers across the political spectrum supported this bill with very strong support, but very conservative mothers were split.