Child Care for Every Community Act

Key Points

• This bill would create a universal child care entitlement for every child below school age. Every child not yet required to attend school would be guaranteed access to a program, regardless of family income, disability, citizenship, or employment status.
• Families earning up to 200% of the poverty line would pay nothing. Higher-income families would pay on a sliding scale, with costs never exceeding 7% of family income, no matter how many children they enroll.
• Child care workers and teachers would be paid at rates comparable to local public school employees with similar training and experience. The bill also sets a floor at a living wage as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• The federal government would cover at least 90% of program costs, and 100% for children of migrant/seasonal farmworkers, Native American children, and Native Hawaiian children. Programs must operate full-working-day (at least 10 hours) and full calendar year.
• The bill authorizes $500 million per year from 2026 through 2036 for training, research, technical assistance, and quality improvement. The core entitlement program itself would receive "such sums as may be necessary," meaning spending is not capped.