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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Pushes For Lower Child Care Costs

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants to lessen the financial load of child care, which she says is unaffordable.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Pushes For Lower Child Care Costs

The New York Democrat announced Sunday she's proposing legislation that would more than double the federal child care tax credit -- and also make it refundable.

Gillibrand said new data from the state Office of Child and Family Services show the average New York City family now spends about $15,210 annually for child care for an infant, $12,116 for a toddler and $10,920 for a school-aged kid.

"This is a way we can grown the economy, because right now in New York City 48 percent of our work force are women," Gillibrand told WCBS 880. "And when you have women with children, women with young children in particular, if you don't have access to affordable day care with good high-quality early childhood education, a lot of parents -- single parents, working moms -- cannot be in the work force when they need to be. And that's just undermining our economy and potential for growth."

Gillibrand said city families currently can get up to $1,050 for one child to put toward child care, an amount that decreases as their income rises. She said her plan would raise the maximum credit to $3,000.

The senator is also proposing a child care tax deduction.

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