Bonamici, Scott, Jacobs, Murray Introduce Legislation to Overturn Harmful Child Care Rule

WASHINGTON, DC [6/24/26] - Today Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal a final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that would make child care more expensive and less accessible.

The Trump administration's "Restoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)" final rule repeals a 2024 rule that protected families from excessive costs, provided greater financial stability for child care programs, and increased child care options for families. The final rule repealing these provisions is set to take effect on July 13, 2026.

"It's disturbing that the Trump administration is making child care more expensive when the cost for child care can be as much as rent or mortgage payments and families are struggling to pay for necessities like health care, groceries, and gas," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Child care is essential infrastructure and I am grateful to partner with Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, and Rep. Jacobs to fight this harmful final rule that would make it even harder for families to find and pay for care they need for their children."

"Child care is already one of the largest expenses in a family's budget - and Republicans are making it worse. The Biden Administration's Child Care and Development Fund rule protected families from crushing copayments, stabilized child care providers, and ensured timely reimbursements. Now, the Trump Administration is ripping those protections away. Without a cap on copayments, families could once again be forced to pay more than they can afford. Without enrollment-based reimbursements, providers will face financial unpredictability that could force them to close their doors," said Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott. "I am proud to cosponsor this Congressional Review Act resolution, alongside Representatives Bonamici (OR-01) and Jacobs (CA-15), to overturn this rollback and restore the protections that families and child care providers depend on."

"The Trump Administration has made their agenda crystal clear: tear down the child care system in America, piece by piece, until nothing's left," said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. "Instead of doing anything to actually help the child care sector, this Administration is making the child care crisis worse. After making baseless claims of widespread fraud and threatening to withhold $10 billion in federal funds for states, including California, they're now going after the 2024 CCDF Final Rule. Repealing this rule would increase the costs of child care for families and create more barriers for providers who are already struggling to keep their doors open. I'm proud to co-lead this Congressional Review Act because every family in America deserves quality, accessible, and affordable child care."

"Trump is intentionally raising the cost of practically everything-and in case tariffs driving up child care costs wasn't bad enough, now he is going out of his way to push prices up even further," said Senator Patty Murray. "What Trump is doing is nothing short of punishing working class families who need help to afford the astronomical cost of child care. It doesn't help to make child care more expensive while also forcing parents to pay Trump's tariff tax. It doesn't make life any easier for families by forcing them to pay more for child care when gas is $5 a gallon where they live. Democrats are fighting to make child care more affordable and to help families. Trump is actively making it more expensive to raise a family. Congress should take action as soon as possible to overturn this harmful, anti-family policy."

The 2024 CCDF Final Rule had several provisions that this final rule overturns:

• Capping copayments at 7 percent of household income: Prior to the 2024 CCDF Final Rule, some states charged copayments as high as 27 percent of family income. The 2024 CCDF Final Rule capped copayments at 7 percent of household income. The Trump administration's Final Rule removes the cap so families can be charged more for child care services.
• Enrollment-based subsidy reimbursements: The 2024 CCDF Final Rule codified a COVID-19 pandemic policy that reimbursed subsidies based on enrollment rather than attendance. This change helped stabilize the child care sector and is consistent with the private pay market. This Final Rule reverses the change and reinstates reimbursements based on attendance. Attendance-based payments create unpredictability that can threaten the stability and finances of a child care provider.
• Paying providers prospectively: Under the 2024 CCDF Final Rule, providers received payments in advance of the delivery of child care services, which created greater stability in the child care sector and aligned the system with the private-pay market. This Final Rule changes how providers are paid. It no longer requires prospective payments and may delay timely reimbursements for services.

The text of the CRA can be read here.

It is supported by: Caring Across Generations, Center for American Progress, Child Care for Every Family Network, CLASP, Community Change Action, Council for Professional Recognition, Home Grown, Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, MomsRising, National Association for Family Child Care, National Indian Child Care Association, National Women's Law Center, SEIU, SEIU, Small Business Majority, and Zero to Three.

In the House, the CRA is cosponsored by: Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Judy Chu (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Sarah McBride (D-ED), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

In the Senate, the CRA is cosponsored by: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

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