Bill Summary
The "Child Care Access and Affordability Act of 2025" mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study on the barriers families face in accessing child care services funded through the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. The study, to be completed within 18 months of the bill's enactment, will analyze several key areas:
1. The challenges posed by state median income eligibility limits that affect children's and parents' access to child care services.
2. The current status of wait lists for child care services and any state-level reforms that have been implemented to reduce these wait lists.
3. Payment rates to various child care providers under the Act, including center-based and family child care providers.
4. The impact of inflation on the availability and affordability of child care, as well as its effects on family access to these services and provider compensation.
The findings will be reported to the relevant congressional committees to inform future policy decisions aimed at improving child care access and addressing affordability issues.
Possible Impacts
The "Child Care Access and Affordability Act of 2025" could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Increased Access to Child Care Services**: By identifying barriers that families face in meeting state eligibility standards due to median income limits, the study mandated by this legislation could lead to reforms that expand access to child care services. Families who previously could not afford or qualify for assistance may find it easier to access affordable child care, which can enhance their ability to work or pursue education.
2. **Reduction of Wait Lists for Child Care**: The study will assess the extent of wait lists for childcare services, which can be a significant barrier for families in need of immediate care. If the findings lead to state-level reforms that effectively reduce these wait lists, more families will be able to secure timely and necessary child care, alleviating stress and improving overall family well-being.
3. **Improved Payment Rates for Child Care Providers**: By evaluating the rates of payments made to various child care providers, the legislation has the potential to ensure that child care providers receive fair compensation. This could lead to better quality of care, as providers may be able to invest more in their services, thereby benefiting children and families who rely on these services. Furthermore, improved compensation may attract more individuals to the child care profession, addressing workforce shortages in this critical sector.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6656 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6656
To require the Government Accountability Office to carry out a study
relating to barriers in accessing the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 due to inflation and State eligibility standards.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Ms. McDonald Rivet (for herself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Government Accountability Office to carry out a study
relating to barriers in accessing the Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 due to inflation and State eligibility standards.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Access and Affordability
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. REQUIRED STUDY BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
Not latter than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Government Accountability Office carry out a study of each of
States, and report the results of such study to the appropriate
committees of the Congress, to identify--
(1) the barriers children and parents face in meeting State
standards under such Act due to State median income eligibility
limits,
(2) the extent of the wait list of applicants for child
care services provided under the Child Care and Development
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) and State-
level reforms that have reduced such wait lists,
(3) the rates of payments made under such Act to center-
based child care providers, family child care providers, and
other providers of child care services for compensation under
such Act, and
(4) the impact of inflation on child care availability and
affordability under such Act, on expanding the number of
families accessing such services, and improving payment rates
for such services.
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