Congress·In Committee·H.R. 4418

House Democrats' Child Care for Working Families Act Would Cap Costs at 7% of Income for Families

Child Care for Working Families Act

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Would create a new federal child care help program for kids under 6 (not yet in kindergarten), with help starting Oct. 1, 2026 in states that opt in.
Caps what many families pay: no copay for families at or below 85% of their state’s median income; higher-income families pay on a sliding scale, up to 7% of income.
Tries to grow the number of child care openings by funding startup, expansion, and facility grants, with extra focus on underserved areas and care for infants, toddlers, and kids with disabilities.
Pushes higher pay and training for child care workers by requiring states to set payment rates that cover costs and support wages at least at a living-wage level.
Also funds universal, free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and expands Head Start hours, with added money aimed at boosting Head Start staff wages.

EducationLabor EmploymentSmall Business

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Child Tax Credit

Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jul 15, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Jul 15, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

During FY 2026 (starting Oct. 1, 2025) and into 2026

States, territories, and tribes submit plans/applications to join the new child care entitlement and preschool programs

Your state may need to opt in and get approval before families can receive the new benefits, so rollout can vary by where you live

FY 2026 once funds are appropriated and grants are awarded

BASE Grants (Title II) begin for states to subgrant child care providers for stability and wages

Some child care programs may start getting steadier funding and raising pay before the full entitlement is available everywhere

FY 2026

Head Start wage support funding becomes available

Head Start programs may raise pay to a living wage or to levels similar to elementary school staff, which could help reduce staffing shortages and closures

After Oct. 1, 2026 as states expand beyond the 85% SMI group

Child care entitlement expands to all eligible children who apply in participating states

After the initial low-income-first step, the program is designed to keep expanding until every eligible child who applies is offered help

Related News

3 articles

KAWC (NPR)·7 months ago

AZ families pinched by child care costs as relief bill stalls in Congress

The Child Care for Working Families Act is stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress. Introduced in April, the bill would increase federal funding to ensure child care would cost no more than $15 a day for families earning the median income, which in Arizona is about $78,000 a year.

Washington State Standard·9 months ago

Dems, GOP members of US House panel split on solution to high cost of child care

Democrats highlighted the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would cap the cost of child care at 7% of income. While Republicans touted a longstanding block grant and called for choice and flexibility, Democrats pushed for more federal investments to cap costs.

The Columbian·almost 2 years ago

In Our View: Take action on critical U.S. child care crisis

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., pointed to the national debt and said the Child Care for Working Families Act would be 'not only fiscally irresponsible but morally irresponsible.' Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., says the legislation would fund construction of centers and cap costs for families at 7%.