(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced that the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act passed with his legislation to ensure that the grants are prioritized for low income families with special needs children. Vitter’s amendment creates key enforcement mechanisms to ensure these children receive necessary care.

“Children with disabilities face tremendous challenges, and low-income families often don’t have the resources needed to provide them with specialized support or even basic child care,” Vitter said. “This legislation is a very positive victory, because it ensures that these families are the first to receive the support they need.”

Click here to watch Vitter’s comments on the Senate floor before passing his amendment in March, 2014.

Vitter’s legislation was originally introduced on March 12, 2014 and was included in the CCDBG Reauthorization which passed the Senate on March 13, 2014. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week with the Vitter amendment still included. The Senate passed the final version late last night by unanimous consent. The legislation now awaits a signature from the President.

Vitter’s amendment requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Inspector General to submit an annual report to the Secretary to ensure all states receiving CCDBG funding prioritize funds for low income families with special needs children. If states fail to prioritize funding for these families, their CCDBG payments will be reduced by five percent until they have systems in place to meet this requirement.

Current law requires states to prioritize CCDBG funds to families with very low family incomes and to children with special needs, but the statute has never been enforced. Currently 23 states are violating the law and 22 others are not guaranteeing the funds go to these families. Louisiana is one of five states in full compliance.