PRIA Logo™
119-s-1285119th CongressWALLET

Building Child Care for a Better Future Act

Sponsored By: Senator Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

Introduced

Summary

Expands and reorganizes federal child care funding to grow supply, raise quality, and strengthen the workforce. It would restructure the Child Care and Development Block Grant program and authorize large, ongoing grants and targeted investments to increase access and support providers.

Show full summary
  • Families: Low‑income households would get expanded child care assistance, a new grant track for high‑need areas, and funding for capital and facility improvements to increase slots.
  • Workforce and facilities: Funds would support workforce development and require prevailing wage rules like Davis‑Bacon for construction and renovation paid with program dollars to raise job standards.
  • State, tribal, and territorial rules: Would start with a $20.0 billion FY2026 appropriation and fund future years at the prior level or with inflation increases. It would reserve funds for tribal grants, set aside small shares for research and technical assistance, and impose state maintenance‑of‑effort spending minimums plus annual reporting and evaluations.

*Would increase federal spending by authorizing a $20.0 billion FY2026 appropriation and ongoing inflation‑linked funding.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Big new federal child care funding

This bill would provide $20 billion for child care grants in FY2026. Each year after, the amount would rise by the CPI-U or stay the same. Five percent would go to tribes and tribal organizations. Four percent would go to territories. Up to 0.5% would fund technical help and 0.5% would fund research and evaluation. The money would be transferred to CCDBG lead agencies and follow CCDBG rules. This change would take effect October 1, 2025. The bill would also remove an old phrase so modern federal match rate rules could apply to these funds, which could change the federal share for some states and tribes.

Grants to expand child care

This bill would create a separate $5 billion grant program each year to expand child care in areas of particular need. The Department would pay lead agencies quarterly after they submit an approved plan. Five percent of each grant pool would go to tribes, 4 percent to territories, up to 0.5% for technical help, 0.5% for evaluation, and up to 3% for administration. Grants would not require matching funds. Lead agencies must prioritize listed populations and services. Construction funded by these grants must pay Davis-Bacon wages. Lead agencies would report spending and meet multi-year evaluation rules. These rules would start October 1, 2025.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation