Child Care for Working Families Act
Sponsored By: Senator Patty Murray
Introduced
Summary
This bill creates a new, comprehensive federal entitlement for children from birth through five that guarantees access to affordable, high‑quality early care and learning. It pairs a universal preschool program with multi‑year grants to stabilize providers and new Head Start wage and expansion funding.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Child care entitlement and copays
If enacted, beginning October 1, 2026, eligible children in States, Tribes, or Territories with approved plans who apply and are found eligible would be entitled to direct child care assistance. States would have to use a sliding fee scale tied to State median income: no copay at or below 85% of SMI, up to 2% between 85%–100% SMI, up to 4% between 100%–125% SMI, up to 7% between 125%–150% SMI, and 7% above 150% SMI; part-time care is prorated. After a State adopts the required cost model, providers could not charge families more than the public assistance plus the family copayment for eligible children.
Large grants to boost child care pay
If enacted, the bill would fund $9 billion a year from FY2026 through FY2031 for new grants to States and Tribal organizations. Most grant money would be paid as five-year subgrants and at least 70% of subgrant funds would have to go to child care personnel costs (wages, COLAs, and graduated pay increases). Lead agencies could keep up to 10% for administration and supply activities. Providers applying for grants would need to show plans for annual cost-of-living raises and pay steps, and BASE grant money would have to add to, not replace, existing public child care funding.
State rules for child care pay
If enacted, States getting program funds would have to certify that payment rates cover true child care costs and set rates using a statistically valid cost model updated at least every 3 years. States would have to ensure rates fund at least a living wage and match pay for elementary educators with similar credentials, and wages must get annual cost-of-living increases. For FY2026–2031 States must set aside 5%–10% of prior-year child care payments for quality and supply activities. Funds would have to supplement, not replace, existing public child care spending based on a 2023–2025 baseline.
More Head Start pay and hours
If enacted, the bill would provide $2.7 billion each year starting in FY2026 to help Head Start and Early Head Start raise teacher and staff pay to match elementary educators or at least a living wage. It would also reserve funds (including $4 billion from FY2026 funds) to help Head Start programs offer full-day, full-year services or continuous services for migrant programs and to improve quality. Grants would be used to extend hours for current slots and could not be used to expand total enrollment.
Federal funding for universal preschool
If enacted, the bill would pay a share of State preschool spending for FY2026–FY2031: 90% in FY2026–FY2027, 80% in FY2028, 75% in FY2029, 65% in FY2030, and 60% in FY2031. It would also provide large FY2026 appropriations, including $20 billion for local grants and Head Start awards, $2.5 billion for Tribes, $1.25 billion for Territories, and other funds available until September 30, 2031. Local programs getting funds would have to meet strong preschool standards (at least 1,020 hours per year, universal free access, outreach and priority enrollment for high-need children, and teacher degree and pay rules), follow nondiscrimination laws, and keep State pre-K funding from falling below the 2023–2025 baseline.
Federal oversight of child care programs
If enacted, the Secretary would review and monitor State, Tribal, Territory, and local compliance with the titles and State plans. The agency would set rules for receiving and deciding complaints, notify States when they fail to comply, require progress updates, and impose sanctions where allowed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Patty Murray
WA • D
Cosponsors
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Michael Bennet
CO • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Maggie Hassan
NH • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Mark Kelly
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
John Reed
RI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Sheldon Whitehouse
RI • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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