,,iii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #he ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #a1 #bjba,ms4 ,warren 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,brown1 and ,mr4 ,merkley7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of the ,senate that it is the duty of the ,federal ,government to dramatically expand and strengthen the care economy4 ,whereas the preamble of the ,constitution of the ,united ,states cites the duty to promote the general ,welfare1 establishing care for the people of the ,united ,states as one of the pillars of our system of government2 ,whereas1 even before the novel coronavirus disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 pandemic1 and the recession it triggered-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states was experiencing profound crises of care and well-being2 and 7#b7 critical public services and programs in the ,united ,states were underresourced or nonexistent2 ,whereas we are interdependent and1 at various stages of life1 everyone will give or receive care2 ,whereas care work makes all other work possible1 and the economy of the ,united ,states cannot thrive without a healthy and robust foundation of care for all people2 ,whereas over #c1gjj1jjj children are born every year in the ,united ,states1 and about #aj1jjj people in the ,united ,states reach retirement age each day2 ,whereas nearly #bj1jjj1jjj adults in the ,united ,states have long-term care needs arising from old age or a disability2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 more than #a out of #e adults in the ,united ,states had been an unpaid caregiver for an adult family member or friend1 or for a child with disabilities1 in the preceding #ab months2 ,whereas #fj percent of unpaid caregivers worked for pay outside the home1 and most were women2 ,whereas over #c1jjj1jjj children and young people in the ,united ,states had also been caregivers for adults2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 women in the ,united ,states spent an average of nearly #d hours per day on unpaid care work and housework1 #eg percent more hours than men2 ,whereas just as our country's physical infrastructure is crumbling1 the ,federal and ,state programs constituting our care infrastructure are an outdated patchwork1 and quality care is inaccessible for millions of people in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states does not guarantee paid time off to give and receive care1 and is the only industrialized country in the world without a national paid family and medical leave program2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 only #ag percent of the ,united ,states workforce had access to paid family leave through their employer2 ,whereas the median cost of a private room in a nursing home facility is #aje1hej per year2 ,whereas childcare is the highest household expense for families in much of the ,united ,states1 and public childcare assistance is limited2 ,whereas ,medicaid-- 7#a7 covers long-term care needs1 but with strict income and asset eligibility requirements2 and 7#b7 has an institutional bias1 requiring ,state programs to cover care in congregate facilities1 while home and community-based services are optional and limited2 ,whereas ,medicare generally does not cover long-term services and supports2 ,whereas only #g percent of individuals in the ,united ,states aged #ej or older are covered by private long-term care insurance1 which is often prohibitively expensive2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 nearly #cj1jjj1jjj people1 including #d1djj1jjj children1 did not have health insurance in the ,united ,states1 over half of them people of color1 and tens of millions more people were underinsured2 ,whereas the median annual pay of childcare and home care workers is #be1eaj and #ag1bjj1 respectively1 leading to high turnover and reliance on public assistance2 ,whereas childcare workers are #ie percent women1 and home care workers are #hg percent women1 both disproportionately people of color and immigrants2 ,whereas1 in #bjbj1 according to the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics1 #h percent of health care support workers and #c4f percent of personal care and service workers were members of unions2 ,whereas these conditions have historical roots1 as-- 7#a7 in the decades following the abolition of slavery in the ,united ,states1 ,black people primarily worked as domestic and agricultural laborers2 and 7#b7 during the ,new ,deal-era1 domestic and agricultural workers were excluded from social programs and labor protections1 particularly those created by-- 7,a7 the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cja et seq472 7,b7 the ,national ,labor ,relations ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq472 and 7,c7 the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bja et seq472 ,whereas the ,,covid-#ai pandemic has underscored that frontline work1 including direct care1 childcare1 nursing1 health care1 public and community health1 mental health1 domestic1 social assistance1 education1 service1 retail1 delivery1 food1 restaurant1 agricultural1 and other work1 is essential to the functioning and flourishing of the ,united ,states1 and to the care of all people2 ,whereas1 during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 it has been necessary for frontline workers to engage in numerous strikes and work stoppages to obtain safe workplaces1 personal protective equipment1 the right to shelter in place1 and other basic protections2 ,whereas domestic workers1 mostly from the global ,south1 were the most common victims of labor trafficking reported in the ,united ,states between #bjjg and #bjag2 ,whereas care and domestic workers who are migrants or immigrants are especially likely to face wage theft1 abuse1 and other forms of exploitation2 ,whereas hospitals in the ,united ,states are understaffed1 and most of the country does not require minimum nurse-to-patient ratios that save lives2 ,whereas health care and social assistance workers suffer from the highest rates of injuries due to workplace violence2 ,whereas the closure of rural hospitals is accelerating1 and #ace rural hospitals have closed since #bjaj2 ,whereas ,black1 ,latino1 and ,indigenous people have all been more than twice as likely to die of ,,covid-#ai than ,white people2 ,whereas adults receiving long-term care in institutional settings represent less than #a percent of the ,united ,states population1 but account for more than one-third of ,,covid-#ai deaths in the ,united ,states as of the date of introduction of this resolution2 ,whereas the decision of the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states in ,olmstead v4 ,l4,c41 #ebg ,u4,s4 #eha 7#aiii71 established the right of people with disabilities to be independent and supported in their homes and communities2 ,whereas lack of access to technology and broadband internet among people of color1 low-income and rural communities1 older adults1 and people with disabilities has negatively impacted the well-being of those people1 particularly during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 ,whereas1 on any given night in #bjai1 well over #eej1jjj people were unhoused in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 in the ,united ,states1 #a in #g children1 more than #a in #d ,black children1 and more than #a in #e ,latino and ,indigenous children lived in poverty2 ,whereas youth suicide rates are rising1 and suicide attempts by ,black adolescents increased by #gc percent between #aiia and #bjag2 ,whereas the ,federal ,head ,start program reaches only #cf percent of eligible low-income children1 and ,early ,head ,start reaches only #aa percent2 ,whereas #ad1jjj1jjj students attend schools with a police officer but no counselor1 nurse1 psychologist1 or social worker2 ,whereas mental health professionals1 such as school psychologists and counselors1 are best equipped to maintain school safety without pushing children into the school-to-prison pipeline2 ,whereas nearly #a in #d students1 or up to #c1jjj1jjj students1 has been missing from school during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 and will need additional support both in and outside of school to accelerate learning2 ,whereas the youth mental health crisis has been exacerbated by the climate crisis1 and has worsened due to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic and economic collapse2 ,whereas ,black1 ,brown1 ,indigenous1 and low-income communities have borne the brunt of health impacts arising from fossil fuel use1 industrial pollution1 and crumbling infrastructure2 ,whereas1 increasingly1 climate disasters and extreme weather events are leaving behind communities suffering from widespread trauma and in need of mental health care2 ,whereas nurses1 care and social assistance workers1 and educators-- 7#a7 have been first responders during climate disasters and extreme weather events2 7#b7 are essential for responding to other forms of environmental harm2 and 7#c7 have taken grave personal risks to help the people they serve2 ,whereas worsening climate impacts will make care work more necessary and care more difficult to administer1 disproportionately impacting children1 older adults1 and people with disabilities1 who risk being separated from their regular care workers and caregivers2 ,whereas1 despite the prevalence of low wages and difficult conditions1 direct care jobs1 including home care1 residential care1 and nursing assistant jobs1 are already among the fastest growing in the the ,united ,states and represent the largest occupational group in the country2 ,whereas communities devastated by deindustrialization and disinvestment are particularly reliant on care and social assistance work for employment2 ,whereas many care1 social assistance1 and education jobs are relatively low-carbon occupations1 and can quickly become green jobs as certain physical infrastructures decarbonize1 especially transit systems1 health care facilities1 and public buildings2 ,whereas a robust care workforce will also be required to support a just transition to a healthy1 zero-carbon economy1 as other workers shift to new industries1 move across the country1 and develop new care needs2 ,whereas the multiple crises now facing the ,united ,states require not only unprecedented investments in physical infrastructure1 but also similarly sized investments in social infrastructure1 including care infrastructure2 ,whereas public investment in care work supports care workers' increased economic activity1 creating additional jobs throughout the economy2 ,whereas we have a historic opportunity to finally build care infrastructure that is equitable and inclusive1 and one in which all people can thrive1 prosper1 weather future disruptions1 and age with dignity in their own homes and communities2 and ,whereas1 in the context of addressing and defeating the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 economic crisis1 systemic racism1 and climate change1 and taking seriously the mandate to promote the general ,welfare1 bold investments in care can anchor the rebirth of the ,united ,states3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that it is the sense of the ,senate that-- 7#a7 it is the duty of the ,federal ,government to dramatically expand and strengthen the care economy1 healing and supporting the country as we emerge from the ,,covid-#ai pandemic and face the challenges of the #bast century and beyond2 7#b7 the obligation described in paragraph 7#a7 can only be met with far-reaching public investments1 designed to achieve the goals of-- 7,a7 repairing the wrongs of history1 including by-- 7i7 acknowledging and addressing the legacies of exclusion and oppression faced by caregivers and care workers1 particularly women of color and immigrants2 7ii7 acknowledging and addressing the trauma of all those with unmet care needs1 such as people of color1 including ,black1 ,brown1 and ,indigenous people and ,asian ,americans and ,pacific ,islanders1 immigrant1 ,,lgbtqia1 older1 low-income1 rural1 and deindustrialized communities1 people with disabilities1 the unemployed1 underemployed1 unhoused1 people who are incarcerated or who were formerly incarcerated1 veterans1 survivors of abuse1 and children and young people coping with economic and climate disruption2 and 7iii7 approaching care policy as part of a broader agenda of dismantling systemic racism1 sexism1 economic inequality1 and other forms of oppression1 alongside efforts to achieve truth and reconciliation1 reparations1 decarceration1 restorative justice1 ,indigenous sovereignty1 a fair and humane immigration system1 demilitarization1 a ,federal jobs guarantee1 and economic1 environmental1 and climate justice for all2 7,b7 raising pay1 benefits1 protections1 and standards for existing care workers1 such that-- 7i7 care jobs are family sustaining1 paying substantially more than #ae an hour and offering generous benefits2 7ii7 all care workers have-- 7,i7 the right1 and have pathways1 to unionize2 7,,ii7 the ability to engage in collective action2 and 7,,iii7 full labor protections1 including those specified in the ,domestic ,workers ,bill of ,rights ,act2 7iii7 all care workers who wish to form worker-owned cooperatives have access to resources and technical support with which to do so2 7iv7 all care workers have access to ample training opportunities1 apprenticeships1 and career ladders leading to higher compensation1 along with other resources and support1 including funding to facilitate those opportunities2 7v7 all care workers have the mandated employer protections they need to conduct their work safely in general1 and in the event of a pandemic1 infectious disease outbreak1 or other disaster1 including having optimal personal protective equipment1 optimal isolation protocols1 testing and contact tracing1 and paid days off due to exposure or illness2 7vi7 all care workers are safe from workplace violence1 harassment1 and threats to health2 and 7vii7 all undocumented workers have pathways to citizenship and full and equal access to all public benefits1 including health1 nutrition1 and income support2 7,c7 creating millions of new care jobs over the next decade1 including as part of existing and new public jobs programs1 subject to the same principles in subparagraph 7,b71 in the context of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic recovery1 the ,green ,new ,deal1 and any similar efforts to meet the challenges and opportunities of the #bast century2 7,d7 building and expanding zero-carbon1 non-polluting1 climate-safe infrastructure1 including physical infrastructure and social infrastructure1 to guarantee care to all people throughout the life cycle1 moving the ,united ,states toward universal1 public programs ensuring-- 7i7 high-quality health care1 including comprehensive and noncoercive mental health care coverage1 substance use treatment1 and reproductive care1 free at the point of service2 7ii7 free1 high-quality home and community-based services1 without income or asset tests and without waiting lists1 which would fix the institutional bias of the current system1 and allow people with disabilities and older adults to receive needed support and live self-directed lives2 7iii7 free1 high-quality childcare and early childhood education with a focus on the first #a1jjj days of life1 and robust1 culturally responsive1 and diverse care settings to achieve healthy child development2 7iv7 paid family and medical leave of at least #f months1 with full wage replacement2 and 7v7 additional support for unpaid caregivers1 people with disabilities1 older adults1 and children1 with the goal of eradicating child poverty2 and 7,e7 building and expanding other zero-carbon1 non-polluting1 climate-safe infrastructure and jobs that are intimately connected to the care infrastructure described in subparagraph 7,d71 to meet the fundamental material1 developmental1 emotional1 and social needs of all people1 including-- 7i7 clean air and water2 7ii7 public1 permanently affordable1 and dignified housing and transit systems1 integrated with adequate social services to support residents of all ages and abilities2 7iii7 safe1 accessible infrastructure1 including public accommodations1 schools1 workplaces1 housing1 transit1 and streets allowing for full mobility for all people2 7iv7 public education1 with a focus on social and emotional learning1 unleashing creativity in the arts and sciences1 and educating and nurturing the whole child1 and including fully funded programs for high-need students2 7v7 healthy1 nourishing1 and sustainable food systems that provide affordable1 accessible1 and culturally appropriate foods2 7vi7 comprehensive public health and emergency preparedness infrastructure1 including equitable1 democratic response and recovery efforts during and after climate disasters2 7vii7 clear opportunities for1 and the removal of barriers to1 unionization and collective action in all economic sectors1 including the service1 technology1 and gig work sectors2 7viii7 a ,federal minimum wage of at least #ae an hour1 indexed to the cost of living1 and the elimination of subminimum wages for people with disabilities1 tipped workers1 and all other workers2 7ix7 expanded leisure time1 with no loss in pay or benefits2 7x7 generous1 paid sick days and vacation time2 7xi7 support for worker ownership1 worker-owned cooperatives1 and safety and democracy in the workplace1 so that workers have meaningful influence over their conditions of work and the decisions that affect their lives2 7xii7 adequate public services and programs to support all people in navigating economic and social challenges1 including navigating life on a rapidly warming planet1 and to help all people unleash their full potential as human beings2 7xiii7 public libraries1 community centers1 and other spaces that foster creativity1 connection1 mental health1 and human development2 7xiv7 support for practicing and aspiring artists1 as well as institutions1 venues1 and platforms that empower and fairly compensate artists1 bringing their work to wider audiences1 and integrating the arts into community mental health1 education1 and resilience efforts2 7xv7 access to nature1 public space1 diverse forms of public recreation1 and technology1 including public broadband internet2 and 7xvi7 mechanisms for democratic oversight of data1 algorithmic1 and technological systems1 along with worker and community participation in the development and application of those systems1 in service of expanding and improving care and social infrastructures2 7#c7 any ,,covid-#ai relief and economic recovery legislation must prioritize and invest in care infrastructure as a down payment on building an interconnected1 holistic caregiving system that-- 7,a7 is the backbone of the economy and essential to all people2 and 7,b7 celebrates the interdependence of all people2 7#d7 unpaid caregivers deserve support1 care workers deserve quality1 high-paying1 union jobs1 people with disabilities and older adults deserve independence and self-determination1 and every person1 at every stage of life1 deserves to live1 work1 play1 and care with dignity2 and 7#e7 our ultimate aim is to build an economy and society based on care for people1 communities1 and the planet we all share4