This blog has been updated on February 12th to reflect changes to the proposed legislation.

When Delegate Adele McClure returned to Richmond from her home district in Arlington for the 2024 General Assembly session, she did so not only as a legislator but also as a new mother. Just months earlier, she had given birth to her first child, a life-changing event that reshaped her perspective on family, work, and policy. Now, with her baby in tow, McClure’s journey as a Delegate and mom has added urgency and depth to her advocacy—particularly her sponsorship of HB 1771, which seeks to create an employee child care assistance pilot program. 

Preparing for Session with a Baby 

Planning for the upcoming session meant rethinking everything. Instead of the single-room rentals or hotels she had used before, she needed a rental house where a caregiver could stay with her baby. Reliable parking, once a convenience, became essential. 

Breastfeeding added another layer of complexity. McClure faced the challenge of managing 12-hour workdays while pumping and storing milk. “I have three pumps,” she shared, “one through insurance and two I purchased myself.” She experimented with multiple bottle warmers and invested in an expensive milk saver to ensure she could safely transport her stored breast milk back home. Exclusively breastfeeding and preparing for the possibility that her baby might not take to formula required extra planning and effort. 

The Child Care Puzzle 

Perhaps the most daunting challenge has been coordinating child care. Each week of the session brings a new schedule, requiring McClure to juggle caregivers, including family members, friends, and her partner, who works 10-hour days as an electrician. “Mom guilt is real,” she admits. “It’s hard on him, on me, and on everyone supporting us. It feels like I’m putting everyone through something to support the betterment of the commonwealth.” 

These experiences have given McClure a firsthand understanding of the barriers working families face in accessing affordable, reliable child care—a perspective that fuels her legislative priorities. 

Championing HB 1771: Child Care Assistance 

McClure’s HB 1771 is a direct response to what she’s heard from constituents while knocking on doors and what she’s now experienced personally. This bill aims to create a pilot program to help businesses partner with employees to make child care more affordable. 

As a former child care provider and the daughter of an early childhood educator who worked in the field for 10 years, McClure thought she understood the system. But becoming a mother has given her a new appreciation for the challenges parents face. “Even with all my background, I didn’t realize how hard it is to find child care until I needed it myself,” she said. “It’s completely changed my perspective on what’s needed and what’s affordable.” 

HB 1771 establishes an Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program, administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (VECF), not the Virginia Economic Development Authority as originally stated. The bill seeks to help employers provide financial support for child care expenses, making it more accessible for working families.

The original budget request from McClure’s office was $10 million, though $25 million was ultimately included in the budget released last week. The pilot is designed to run for three years, with funds allocated to incentivize employer-supported child care solutions.

Participating employers would receive grants covering a portion of child care expenses paid on behalf of their employees. While the blog initially mentioned a 50% cost-sharing model, HB 1771 itself does not prescribe a specific split or cap per employee. Instead, the House version proposes a 33% state share, while the Senate version suggests 37.5%—meaning final details will be determined through the legislative process.

Her bill has strong potential to gain traction this year, and McClure is optimistic about its impact. “This is about breaking down barriers for working families,” she explained. “Through partnerships with businesses, we can make child care more accessible and affordable for everyone.” 

From Personal Struggles to Legislative Action 

McClure’s experience of navigating motherhood while advocating for systemic change underscores the deep connection motivating the reforms in our early care and education system. 

Voices for Virginia’s Children is advocating for multiple efforts to bolster support, including clearing over 13,000 children off of waitlists for child care across the commonwealth. You can read more about the bills we are supporting this legislative session here: https://vakids.org/bill-tracker  

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