A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
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
The Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 aims to reauthorize and update the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. It introduces a "mixed delivery system" to increase parental choice and flexibility in child care services. The bill establishes new definitions for eligible activities, such as job training and health treatment, and updated eligibility for children. It also implements a cost estimation model to ensure payment rates cover the actual costs of service delivery. Furthermore, the act creates a new program for child care supply and facilities grants to expand capacity and improve facilities.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill expands the supply of high-quality, safe, and healthy child care facilities to support child development.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill increases the number of low-income children in high-quality child care settings through expanded eligibility and subsidies.
- Scored +6
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill establishes a cost estimation model to ensure payment rates are sufficient and mandates a sliding fee scale for copayments.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Parental Choice and Flexibility: The bill promotes a "mixed delivery system" designed to empower working parents to make decisions that best suit their family's needs (Section 2, Purpose 1 and 2; Section 3, paragraph 7).
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Support for Working Parents' Diverse Needs: The definition of "eligible activity" is expanded to include things like job training, education, and health treatment, which can support parents as they work toward independence (Section 3, paragraph 4).
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Improved Quality and Workforce Stability: The act seeks to assist States in improving child care quality through established standards and by supporting the recruitment, professional development, and retention of a qualified workforce (Section 2, Purpose 5 and 6).
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Enhanced Facility Safety and Capacity: Through the "Child Care Supply and Facilities" part, the bill provides grants to expand the supply of qualified providers and ensure facilities are equipped to keep children healthy and safe (Section 12, Part II, subsection a).
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Financial Support for Providers: The bill requires States to develop cost estimation models to ensure payment rates are sufficient to meet the actual costs of providing services, including staff salaries and benefits (Section 6, paragraph 4, subparagraph B).
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Targeted Support for Vulnerable Populations: The bill directs priority for subgrants toward specific priority populations of children (Section 12, Part II, subsection f, paragraph 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Requirements for Families: While the bill mentions a sliding fee scale, it still requires a copayment for families receiving assistance (Section 6, paragraph 4, subparagraph 5).
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Compliance Burdens for Providers: Providers must meet various health, safety, and regulatory standards to receive support or participate in the system (Section 2, Purpose 5; Section 12, Part II, subsection f, paragraph 3).
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 bill expands the supply of high-quality, safe, and healthy child care facilities to support child development. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill increases the number of low-income children in high-quality child care settings through expanded eligibility and subsidies. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill authorizes grants specifically for Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to expand their child care supply and capacity. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes funding for child care services for children with disabilities through supply expansion subgrants. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill mandates that states ensure rural providers can readily access and apply for supply and facilities grants. Would women be better off under this? — The bill supports working parents through expanded childcare options, which disproportionately benefits women in the workforce. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides more options and flexibility for working parents through a mixed delivery system.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill establishes a cost estimation model to ensure payment rates are sufficient and mandates a sliding fee scale for copayments. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill supports parents in achieving independence from public assistance by expanding childcare access and quality. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The bill specifically identifies children experiencing homelessness as a priority population for child care assistance.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides technical assistance and support for child care businesses, including management coaching and shared services initiatives.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The bill promotes a mixed delivery system that includes public and private schools to increase parental choice.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes specific provisions for providing technical assistance to help rural child care providers access supply and facilities grants.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires states to submit annual progress reports to the Secretary and report national and state-level data to Congress.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill allows health treatment, including mental health, to be an eligible activity for supporting parents' participation in work or education.
- 9/30/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/6/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/19/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
- 9/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska