SE Nebraska News

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation aimed at reauthorizing and updating the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a key federal program that helps working families access child care. The bill, known as the Child Care Modernization Act, is sponsored by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

The CCDBG has been in place for more than 30 years but has not been reauthorized since 2014. The proposed legislation seeks to address gaps in child care access, particularly in rural areas, and make improvements to how states deliver these services.

“Affordable, quality child care is a necessity – not a luxury. Unfortunately, that is not the reality, especially in rural areas. With the Child Care Modernization Act,we will reauthorize and improve the Child Care and Development Block Grant to provide significant, positive change in child care access and quality. The CCDBG has provided working families with child care services for 30 years; we will continue to work to fund the program to ensure these changes can be implemented and continue to serve families who need child care assistance. It’s time to reauthorize this important program to extend child care to more hardworking American families,” said Fischer, Gillibrand, Collins, and Hickenlooper.

The bill would require states to use cost estimation models when setting provider rates so that child care providers are adequately compensated. It also allows states flexibility in developing systems that offer both child care and preschool options for children up to age five as well as before-school, after-school, and summer programs for school-age children.

Additionally, the act introduces a new grant program within the CCDBG framework intended to help increase the supply of available child care by supporting providers who want to create or expand their services. States would also be encouraged to reduce regulatory burdens on providers by reviewing health and safety requirements for redundancies.

The proposal aims at improving support for families through better state planning while increasing affordability and reducing barriers for those seeking assistance. In-home and rural providers would receive technical help focused on best business practices.

The legislation has received endorsements from organizations such as Afterschool Alliance, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Child Care Aware of America, Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), First Five Years Fund, Independent Restaurant Coalition, KinderCare Learning Companies (KLIC), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LSIC), Low Income Investment Fund, Moms First, National Association of Counties (NACo), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), National Children’s Facilities Network, Save the Children, Start Early, National Child Care Association, TOOTRis, and YMCA of the USA.

Further details about provisions included in the bill can be found here, along with stakeholder statements here.