Low-Income Family Child Care Assistance on Way to President’s Desk

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) praised the Senate’s passage last night of S. 1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) of 2014, which the House passed in September. The bipartisan program reauthorization provides child care assistance to low-income families so that parents are freed to work or participate in education or job training. The bill allows each state maximum flexibility in developing child care programs, and opens up more provider choices for parents. The bill heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

“This legislation is a good example of how working together in a bipartisan way to reform programs can help families in need. The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act relieves the stresses that parents have when both work outside the home and have to find care for their children,” said Rep. Hultgren. “Choosing between caring for your children and job training that can improve your earning power is a no-win decision. Parents should be able to do both, while also being able to choose the type of care, including faith-based and community-based providers. I urge the president to sign this legislation quickly to help families in Illinois regain economic security.”

The Child Care and Development block Grant Act of 2014 will:

Make child care safer. By requiring all providers to comply with state health, safety, and fire standards, as well as annual facility inspections, parents will be more comfortable, knowing their child’s care facility is safe.

Enhance child development. This grant extends the program’s original goal of ensuring quality education through age-appropriate practices and education for all children – regardless of income, race, or location.

Give parents more choice. By giving parents more information on child care options (including faith-based and community-based providers), they are able to choose a child care program that works best for their family.

Ensure quality training and professional development. This agreement requires states to set the number of hours of training required for caregivers, so parents can be sure their children are receiving the highest quality education possible.

Establish efficient funding. By giving funds directly to the states, good practices will be encouraged and funds will be better distributed based on the needs of the region. The grant also ensures funding for six years so as many families as possible are able to take advantage of this resource.

###