STATEMENT: Bipartisan SEED Act Passes Senate
Late last week, the U.S. Senate passed a legislative package that included the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. (The broader package also included provisions related to sanctions on Russia and Iran; Politico has the full details on how this came together.) The SEED Act would allow early childhood educators to receive a tax deduction for a portion of out-of-pocket classroom expenses, just like K-12 educators can. The SEED Act passed the House in April, and will be sent back to the House in September for final approval. The legislation was led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Congressmembers Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
The following is a statement from First Five Years Fund (FFYF) Executive Director Sarah Rittling:
“The Senate’s passage of the bipartisan SEED Act marks another important victory for early childhood educators, working families, and America’s youngest learners. With strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, the SEED Act demonstrates that child care remains a priority and that lawmakers understand the importance of taking every opportunity to support the early childhood educators who make child care possible.
“Early educators help children learn, grow, and build the foundation they need for success in school and life, while also making it possible for parents to work and businesses to thrive. Despite earning modest wages, these educators often spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on books, classroom supplies, and learning materials. K-12 teachers are already able to deduct a portion of their out-of-pocket classroom expenses on their annual taxes. The SEED Act extends that same benefit to early childhood educators, recognizing the essential role they play and the personal financial sacrifices they make to support young children’s learning and development.
“We thank the Senate and all of the SEED Act’s bipartisan cosponsors for their support of early childhood educators, and we urge the House to once again approve this important legislation and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”
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