WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care for Working Families Act is comprehensive legislation that would put a cap on childcare costs for working families, address childcare deserts by providing grants to open new facilities, support higher wages for childcare workers, provide comprehensive funding for Head Start to provide full-day, full-year programming, and expand access to pre-K programs.

Included in the legislation is a provision that would enable the typical family in America to pay less than $15 a day for childcare—with many families paying nothing at all—and no eligible family paying more than 7% of their income on childcare.

“Affordable and accessible childcare is one of the most pressing needs for working families in Maine and across the nation, and it presents a huge hurdle to mothers and fathers who want to enter the workforce,” said Senator King. “The Child Care for Working Families Act would provide ample resources for communities across the country to support childcare options that are open for the full day and don’t break the bank. When families have access to care, they can succeed as parents and professionals.”

The average cost of childcare is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. An estimated 18,000 people in Maine are currently out of the labor force due to a lack of child care, while the child care crisis costs Maine nearly $403 million in annual costs.

More specifically, the Child Care for Working Families Act will:

• Make childcare affordable for working families.
• The typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for childcare.
• No working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on childcare.
• Families earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for childcare.
• If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
• Improve the quality and supply of childcare for all children and expand families’ childcare options by:
• Addressing childcare deserts by providing grants to help open new childcare providers in underserved communities.
• Providing grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.
• Increasing childcare options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.
• Supporting childcare for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
• Support higher wages for childcare workers.
• Childcare workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.
• Childcare subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care.
• Dramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.
• States would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.
• States must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.
• If a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.
• Better support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.

In addition to King, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-MN), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Senator King has long worked to expand access to childcare. He secured millions to improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is also the cosponsor of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit that helps households offset their childcare costs. Most recently, he joined bipartisan legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would provide competitive grants for states to train childcare workers and build or renovate childcare facilities.

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