Child Care for Working Families Act
Sponsored By: Representative Scott (VA)
Introduced
Summary
A nationwide entitlement for universal, high‑quality early childhood care and preschool. This bill would create guaranteed direct child care services for eligible children and fund universal preschool, Head Start expansion, and wage improvements beginning October 1, 2026.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Child care guarantee and lower copays
If enacted, eligible children under age 6 could get child care help starting October 1, 2026, in participating States or Tribes. A child would qualify if not in kindergarten and the parent works, studies, seeks work, or gets certain health or safety services. Vulnerable children would be prioritized. Your copay would be tied to your income and capped at 7% of income, with no copay at or below 85% of the state median. Part-time care would lower your copay, and providers could not charge more than assistance plus your copay.
Five-year grants to boost child care pay
If enacted, HHS would provide $9 billion each year from 2026 to 2031 for child care BASE Grants. Lead agencies would award five‑year subgrants, paid in advance, with priority for infants, nontraditional hours, underserved areas, small businesses, and nonprofits. Providers would need to spend at least 70% of subgrant funds on staff pay and benefits, give cost‑of‑living raises, and use wage ladders if they have 15 or more staff. Providers must accept subsidies, stay open except for limited closures, and use funds to supplement—not replace—other public funds.
90% federal share and quality set-asides
If enacted, the federal government would pay 90% of States’ direct child care costs for FY2026–FY2031. States would have to keep child care spending at the average of the prior three years and use only allowed non‑federal match sources. States would set aside 5% to 10% each year for quality and facilities, with priority for underserved areas. Payments would be advanced and later reconciled, with no interest charged on adjustments.
Large grants for universal preschool access
If enacted, States with approved plans would get federal preschool payments: 90% in FY2026–FY2027, then 80%, 75%, 65%, and 60% through FY2031. The federal government would also pay 50% of certain State activity costs, capped at 10% of the preschool payment. States would give multi‑year awards of at least three years, sized to local costs, ages served, and inclusive services, with extra support for providers serving many low‑income children. FY2026 would add $20 billion for local preschool grants and major funds for Tribes, territories, migrant families, and federal support, many available through September 30, 2031. The Secretary would set complaint procedures, monitor compliance, and require civil rights protections for funded programs.
Higher pay and longer Head Start hours
If enacted, $2.7 billion each year starting in FY2026 would help Head Start and Early Head Start pay staff like elementary teachers or at least a living wage. Grants would help programs offer full‑day, full‑year services: at least 1,020 hours a year for Head Start and 1,380 for Early Head Start. Funds could cover facilities, staff, and supplies for current enrollees, but not add new slots. FY2026 would reserve $4 billion for facilities and set aside hundreds of millions more in FY2026–FY2028. Migrant and seasonal programs would get priority to keep services continuous.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Cosponsors
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Fields
LA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Williams (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Clark (MA)
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McClain Delaney
MD • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Leger Fernandez
NM • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McDonald Rivet
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Landsman
OH • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Raskin
MD • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Waters
CA • D
Sponsored 7/17/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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