Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), along with Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), introduced the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act of 2022, legislation to build on Congress’ 30-year record of bipartisan work to support and enhance child care programs across the nation.
This legislation, which serves as an alternative approach to the overbearing child care proposals Democrats pushed in their reckless tax and spending bill, works to improve affordability of child care programs and protects the ability of parents to choose the provider that best fits their family’s needs.
“The past couple of years have magnified the value of, and need for, accessible and affordable quality child care that meets the individualized needs of parents and communities,” Senator Capito said. “The Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act would build upon a proven bipartisan program, which has been effective for decades. It would provide additional support for working families, child care providers and preschool teachers, increase the number of providers, and enhance existing programs in West Virginia.”
BACKGROUND:
Rather than create two new child care and preschool entitlement programs, as the Democrats proposed in their tax and spending bill, the CCDBG Reauthorization Act of 2022 would make responsible enhancements to the historically bipartisan CCDBG program, which has assisted working families with their child care and preschool needs for the last 30 years. Specifically, the reauthorization would:
- Increase family eligibility for CCDBG.
- Ensure an eligible family making less than 75% State Median Income (SMI) pays no child care copay and that no eligible family has a copay greater than 7% of family income.
- Improve reimbursement rates for child care providers so they can recruit and retain qualified staff.
- Support the education and professional development of child care staff.
- Expand the supply and capacity of child care providers so working parents have multiple quality child care options to best suit their family’s needs.
- Remove unnecessary regulations that restrict home-based child care providers in rural areas.
Along with Senator Capito, cosponsors of the Scott-Burr bill include, Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).
In December, Senator Capito led a virtual discussion with local child care providers from West Virginia where she heard directly from them about the negative impacts the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree legislation would have on child care workers and families.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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