The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC Releases Storybook as Paid Leave, Affordable Child Care, and Lower Prescription Drug Costs Take Center Stage for Voters in 2024 Election

Washington, DC – Today, the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy (CFFE) PAC released a new storybook of experiences from 23 voters in battleground states who are struggling with the high cost of caregiving and are voting for President Biden and Democrats this election. 

The storybook, titled Care on the Ballot, comes three days before the first presidential debate on June 27, and showcases the intensely personal and often heartbreaking testimonials of voters from Georgia, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. 

“The spiraling cost of caregiving is top of mind for voters this election, and we know that President Biden and Democrats are the party that have and will continue to have Americans’ backs on these issues,” said Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC (CFFE PAC). “Across the country, we’re hearing from voters that the high cost of child care, elder care and prescription drugs as well as the lack of paid leave have created a crisis for working families. As President Biden and Donald Trump debate later this week, the stark contrast on care issues between the two candidates, and the two parties, will be on full display.” 

The stories include those of parents, child care providers, retirees, patients with chronic illnesses, unpaid family caregivers and more. They describe the ongoing difficulties of retaining staff in child care centers, accessing health care treatment while holding a steady job, affording life-saving medication and taking care of aging family members and small children at the same time. Each voter plans to vote for President Biden and Democrats in battleground states who are committed to delivering for American families on issues like paid family and medical leave, affordable child care and elder care and lowering costs for prescription drugs.

Storybook Highlights

Aquasia Deshay is one of the voters who shared her story. A single mother of two, who moved from Florida to Georgia seeking better economic opportunities, unfortunately found an overburdened child care system. She spent months searching for child care for her toddler who has autism. Thankfully, Aquasia was able to make use of the Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program and enrolled for help affording child care. During the 18 months it took for Aquasia to enroll in financial assistance, she took night shifts to make ends meet, frequently sleeping a few hours a night and struggling to keep a job, almost losing her apartment due to exhaustion. Now, with CAPS funding, Aquasia’s son is enrolled in speech therapy and care at a center they love, and Aquasia can seek daytime employment. 

“I am extremely grateful to be in the position I am now. My son and daughter are thriving and it finally feels like we’ll be okay. I think about the time that I missed with both of them and I know that I can never get it back, “said Aquasia Deshay. “I am supporting President Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot so we can permanently expand increased funding for CAPS, and see that everyone can keep their families moving forward.”

Brenda Moore Fritz, a child care provider in Wisconsin, also shared her story. Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) helped her provide her staff with monthly bonuses, which helped with retention. Unfortunately, when federal ARPA funding expired last year, it became more difficult for her to retain teachers. She’s supporting President Biden this year because of his proven track record of investments in child care.

“Families are already financially strapped with housing and other costs of living,” shared Brenda Moore Fritz. “Their ability to afford rapidly increasing tuition will be difficult and they will have to choose between a parent staying home or jumping through hoops for alternative child care options.” 

Johnna Davis, of New Hampshire, used to work at a restaurant that closed due to labor shortages. With Johnna’s mother having Alzheimer’s disease, and her dad having passed away, Johnna had no choice but to move her into a facility where she did not have a good quality of life. There was no way she could stay at home unsupervised, and it wasn’t possible to find at-home care that was reliable and affordable. 

“We need to better invest in care in this country. I’ve been sandwiched between the struggles my daughter has had affording child care and the inability for my elderly mom to get the in-home care that could have kept her from moving into a nursing home,” remarked Johnna Davis. “I have really appreciated that President Biden has been a champion for care of our youngest and oldest Americans.”

Aquasia’s, Brenda’s, and Johnna’s stories are just three of many. To read the full storybook, go to STORYBOOK: Care on the Ballot – Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy. To speak with one of the voters included, please reach out to press@familyfriendlyeconomy.com. 

###

The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC (CFFE PAC) is fighting for a future where all people can afford to care for themselves and their loved ones. In 2022, CFFE PAC ran a $13.5 million program communicating with voters about where candidates stand on policies that lower the cost of prescription drugs, ensure paid family and medical leave, and provide affordable elder and child care. In 2020, CFFE PAC spent almost $18 million on a program in support of Joe Biden and U.S. Senate candidates that spanned Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Iowa, Montana, Virginia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia.