ICYMI from Fischer in Lincoln Journal Star: Finding Bipartisan Child Care Solutions for Nebraska Families

In case you missed it: U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) penned an op-ed in the Lincoln Journal Star on her bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act and how it will help provide quality, affordable child care to America's working families.

Read Fischer's op-ed here or below.

In Nebraska, we take pride in rolling up our sleeves, working hard, and taking care of our families. But for too many parents, one question looms large: Who will watch the kids, and how can we possibly afford it?

I heard this firsthand across the state during the August work period. In Brown County, I toured the Ainsworth Child Development Center, a nonprofit that opened their doors in March 2024. In Chadron, I met with the Northwest Community Action Partnership, which runs early childhood education programs that serve Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, and Sheridan counties.

Last year, I celebrated the launch of the Knowledge Network for Early Childhood Education Workforce (KNEW) project at the University of Nebraska at Kearney after securing $2 million in federal funding to boost recruitment and retention of rural early childhood educators. I also celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Bansal Family Home for Head Start in Lincoln, which expanded access to high quality care for infants, toddlers, and families in Lancaster County.

These visits underscored a deep truth: when parents have reliable care, families thrive, employers have a steady workforce, and communities grow stronger. For towns across Nebraska, access to quality child care can mean the difference between families putting down roots or moving elsewhere.

But child care is no longer just a family issue. It's a workforce issue, an economic issue, and a community issue. More than 40% of American families can't access affordable child care. In Nebraska, costs can consume more than 10% of a family's income. That's unsustainable for parents trying to get ahead.

Providers are struggling, too. Child care workers in Nebraska earn about $29,000 a year - far below the state's average salary of $63,800. Providers often operate on razor-thin margins, especially in rural areas. Families can't afford to pay more, but providers can't survive on what they earn now.

That's why I'm leading a bipartisan group to introduce the Child Care Modernization Act, a commonsense plan to update the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). This program, the backbone of federal child care assistance for over 30 years, hasn't been updated in over a decade. My bill would strengthen it in three key ways.

First, it would strengthen child care services. States would transition to cost estimation models to ensure reimbursement rates reflect the real cost of care, including staff salaries, training, and compliance. That means providers would be fairly compensated, helping to retain quality workers and expand supply.

Second, it would increase the child care supply. By creating a new grant program within the CCDBG, funds could go directly to providers to open new facilities or expand existing ones. This is especially important here in Nebraska, where child care deserts - places with little to no available providers - stretch across rural counties.

Third, it would improve state plans to better support families and communities. The bill emphasizes parental choice and flexibility. That means funding can support center-based programs, faith-based programs, home-based care, or in-home care - because every community has unique needs.

The bill also calls for greater support of in-home providers, who make up nearly 40% of child care in rural America. These small businesses need technical assistance to navigate regulations and access shared services like provider networks. By making sure rural providers have the tools they need, we can expand care options for families from Omaha to Scottsbluff.

For parents, the impact of CCDBG is already clear. A Nebraska family receiving a subsidy pays about $61 to $73 per month out of pocket. Without it, parents in Adams County pay an average of $900 per month for center-based infant care, and in Lancaster County costs top $1,100 monthly. Expanding and improving this program means more families can breathe easier, knowing child care won't break the bank.

The status quo is failing. Parents are stressed. Providers are stretched. Nebraska's workforce is held back when parents who want to pursue their careers are forced to stay home because child care is too expensive or unavailable.

The CCDBG has been a lifeline for low-income working parents for decades. Now it's time to reauthorize and strengthen it with reforms that reflect the reality families and providers face today.

This isn't a partisan issue. Child care affects Democrats and Republicans, urban and rural families alike. For Nebraska communities, the Child Care Modernization Act represents hope that parents can keep working, providers can keep their doors open, and children can get the quality care they deserve.