OLYMPIA – Earlier today, Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) and Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island) introduced companion legislation to address the child care crisis costing our families, businesses and economy. We must make child care more affordable and accessible for families across Washington state. Child care was in crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now it’s on the brink of collapse. According to a report published by the Association of Washington Business, the child care crisis already costs Washington businesses $2.08 billion a year. Working parents in Washington forgo $14 billion a year in lost wages due to the lack of child care access. In the wake of the pandemic, the problem has been exacerbated with huge numbers of parents leaving the workforce or ...