Just the facts, ma'am

Here's our starting point.

There are an estimated 80.5 million mothers (of children under age 18) in the United States.

At least 55% of mothers with infants under age 12 months are in the labor force. (The most conservative recent estimate I've found.)

74% of new mothers return to the workforce within 2 years after giving birth...but they typically face a downgrade in salary.

American childcare costs between $4,000 and $10,000 per year per child, with higher costs often associated with better care. And rates are highest for infants and speical-needs children.

A childcare study covering four states found that 12 percent of centers "could harm children's health, safety, and development," and that overall, "Child care at most centers is poor to mediocre."

Only 729,040 licensed childcare centers exist nationwide.

By the time the average child enters kindergarten, she will have witnessed 8,000 murders and over 100,000 violent acts on American television.

Because quality after-school childcare is costly and rare, more than 40,000 five-year-old American kindergarteners are home alone every day after school.

10.4 million single mothers live with their children under age 18.

Minimum wage of $5.15/hour does not meet the Self-Sufficiency Standard, which measures how much money a working adult must earn for basic suvival, without subsidies or handouts.

8 million Americans were poor enough to qualify for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supplemental food in 2005, - up 11% under the current administration.

2,475 million school children are now poor enough to qualify for free lunches at public schools - a number that has increased 12% under the current administration.

25.7 million Americans needed food stamps in the year 2005 - a number that has increased by 67 percent under the current administration

9 million American kids have no healthcare coverage. Millions more have inadequate coverage to provided necessary medical attention.

American kids die younger than in 36 other nations on the globe. The U.S. ranks 37th for childhood mortality, according to World Health Organization (WHO) stats.

National paid maternity leave is good for our children's health. Countries with paid maternity leave have significantly lower child mortality rates.


Think we can do better? Find your reps in Congress and DEMAND IT.