WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden will speak at a Connecticut childcare centre Friday to defend a key part of his economic plan. He will talk about funding childcare, which will allow parents, mostly female, to work for a living.

Biden will stress the need to invest in childcare and preschool which will “provide a lifetime full of benefits for kids help parents work, and support equitable economic growth,” White House spokesperson Karinejean-Pierre stated aboard Air Force One on the way to Biden’s speech.

Biden initially proposed funding of $200 billion for universal prekindergarten and other child care programs. This was part of the larger “Care Economy” policy. It aimed to boost economic growth through better pay for home and child health workers and allowing unpaid caregivers to take on more paying work.

According to the White House, outsiders have estimated that the U.S. would see an increase in gross domestic product of 5% if more women (who do the majority of unpaid care work) joined the workforce at the same pace as men.

In August, Democrats introduced a $3.5 trillion spending bill that included $700 billion to fund social programs such as pre-kindergarten, paid leaves, community college and grants for those with limited incomes. The package is being cut by Democratic Senators Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema and the Republicans will be expected to oppose it.