Child Care for Working Families Act
House Democrats' Child Care for Working Families Act Would Cap Costs at 7% of Income for Families
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
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.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
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.
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.
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%.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Child Care for Working Families Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(98)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.