Maura Healey on Families & Children

	Maura Healey on Families & Children

Affordable childcare is growing in Massachusetts

People need childcare. After the pandemic, childcare across the country was collapsing and childcare centers were closing. So, we got to work, because our working parents depend on it. We were the only state to fully replace federal support that went away, with a $1.5 billion investment. We not only saved our system, but affordable childcare is growing in Massachusetts. Today 36,000 more children are getting care; and their parents can go to work and support their families. Source: 2025 State of the State Address: Massachusetts legislature , Jan 16, 2025

Going to get shovels in the ground and people in homes

For decades, we didn't build enough homes in this state. We're paying the price for that, now. There's not enough housing and it's too expensive. But we're changing that. This year, with the Affordable Homes Act in place, we're going to get shovels in the ground and people in homes. And we're going to do it together. So far, 116 towns have said "Yes" to more homes near transit through the MBTA Communities Law. That means thousands of new homes are in the pipeline. Source: 2025 State of the State Address: Massachusetts legislature , Jan 16, 2025

Gateway to Pre-K: universal preschool in Gateway Cities

Pre-K plan to save families money and transform early education in our state. First, we'll get direct help to thousands of families, by expanding eligibility for state financial assistance. In this program, childcare costs are capped based on what you can afford.

Next, we'll set a new goal for early education in Massachusetts. Let's have universal pre-K access for every 4-year-old in our state.

Let's have universal pre-K access for every 4-year-old in our state. By 2026, we will guarantee access to high-quality, affordable preschool for every 4-yearold in all 26 Gateway Cities.

That means a seat in a classroom for over 23,000 children. And we won't stop there.

We're going to keep working--with businesses, providers, and the champions of childcare in the Legislature and across the state. Together, we will expand access, lower costs, and meet this childcare challenge.

Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Mass. legislature , Jan 17, 2024

Most generous child and dependent tax credit of any state

We now have the most generous child and dependent tax credit of any state in the country. And we got rid of the two-child cap! For someone like my mom, it would've meant an extra $2200 every year. Mom, I bet you could've used that money. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Mass. legislature , Jan 17, 2024

Common Start: free child care for lowest-income families

As Governor, she will continue to advocate for federal funding for early education and care, as well as explore state solutions to the child care crisis. Maura supports the Common Start proposal, which would make child care free for the lowest-income families, limit child care costs for most families to no more than 7 percent of their income, and significantly increase pay for early educators to address the workforce crisis in the early education field. Source: 2022 Massachusetts Governor campaign website MauraHealey.com , Jun 7, 2022

Click here for definitions & background information on Families & Children. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Maura Healey. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Maura Healey. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Maura Healey. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Maura Healey. Click here for issue positions of other MA politicians. Click here for MA primary archives. Click here for MA secondary archives.
*Other governors on Families & Children:*			*Maura Healey on other issues:*
*MA Gubernatorial:* Ben Downing Danielle Allen Geoff Diehl Sonia Chang-Diaz *MA Senatorial:* Elizabeth Warren Joe Kennedy III John Deaton Kevin O`Connor Shannon Liss-Riordan Shiva Ayyadurai	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4. Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4. Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate). Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025) Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]