Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI)
Child Care Access and Affordability Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Child Care Access and Affordability Act of 2025," directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a specific study. The study focuses on barriers related to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Specifically, it looks at how inflation and State eligibility standards affect access to child care. The Government Accountability Office must complete this study of each State within 18 months of enactment. Finally, the results must be reported to the appropriate congressional committees.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +2
Would children be better off under this?
The study aims to reduce barriers to childcare access for children.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The study investigates how median income eligibility limits affect the ability of families to access childcare.
- Scored +2
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill directs a study to identify how inflation and eligibility standards impact child care affordability and availability.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Identifying barriers to access: The study aims to identify barriers children and parents face due to State median income eligibility limits (Section 2, Subsection 1). This could help clarify why families are struggling to meet standards.
-
Addressing wait lists: The bill requires looking into the extent of applicant wait lists and finding which State-level reforms have successfully reduced them (Section 2, Subsection 2). This information could lead to better ways to get children into care faster.
-
Evaluating payment rates: The study will examine the rates of payments made to center-based, family, and other child care providers (Section 2, Subsection 3). This helps determine if providers are being compensated adequately.
-
Analyzing inflation impacts: The Act seeks to understand how inflation impacts the availability and affordability of child care (Section 2, Subsection 4). This could help in efforts to expand the number of families accessing services and improve payment rates.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The study aims to reduce barriers to childcare access for children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The study investigates how median income eligibility limits affect the ability of families to access childcare. Would women be better off under this? — Improved access to childcare often disproportionately benefits women's workforce participation and economic stability.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill directs a study to identify how inflation and eligibility standards impact child care affordability and availability. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By examining barriers to childcare access, the study may provide data to improve support for low-income families.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the GAO to report findings to congressional committees, increasing transparency regarding childcare barriers.
- 12/11/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia