HR4418119th CongressWALLET

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.

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

Roll Call Votes

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