Raising a family is no easy task, but it shouldn’t bankrupt you. As both a parent and grandparent, I’ve seen how much harder it is for Iowa families to afford housing, groceries, and especially child care. Four years of record-high inflation under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have left working parents stretched thin.

Under their administration, the cost of child care rose by 23 percent. For parents, especially with multiple children, it’s become nearly impossible to afford. Democrats talked a big game about solving the problem, but their “Build Back Better” child care plan collapsed, and their runaway spending only made life more expensive.

Once they took charge, Republicans didn’t wait around. In less than six months, President Trump and Congressional Republicans passed and signed the One Big, Beautiful Bill, delivering the largest tax cut in American history and real relief for families.

The bill permanently expanded the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by $9.3 billion, the first meaningful update since 2001. That’s an average increase of $900 in deductions for a family of four. They also raised the cap on Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts by 50 percent for the first time in nearly 40 years, allowing parents to pay for child care with pre-tax dollars. Republicans also tripled the tax credits for companies that help their employees access child care, incentivizing more on-site or employer-supported options.

These changes come alongside a permanent $2,200 per child increase in the Child Tax Credit and depositing $1,000 into a savings account for every newborn in America. Together, these reforms are putting real money back in the pockets of parents and giving every child a stronger start in life.

Meanwhile, every single Democrat in Congress voted against it. Why? Because they’d rather deny families a win than give Republicans credit for fixing what Democrats failed to do.

Republicans aren’t just helping parents pay for child care. We’re tackling the broader cost of living. No tax on tips. No tax on overtime. Targeted action to lower the cost of housing, groceries, gas, and healthcare. That’s what it looks like when you focus on solutions, not politics.

And here in Iowa, we’re leading the way too. Governor Kim Reynolds and the legislature have worked to expand access to child care through innovative grant programs that help businesses create new options for their employees, support partnerships between preschools and child care providers, and make it easier for parents to find care that fits their needs. These Iowa-led solutions complement what Republicans are accomplishing nationally, and together, they’re making a real difference for working families.

Democrats are left fearmongering and spinning because they have no answers, but Iowans can see the results for themselves. Republicans are the pro-family party. We’re delivering the relief parents need — and we’re just getting started.

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Jeff Kaufmann is Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.