Scott, Ocasio-Cortez, Murray, Warren Establish Childcare for America Working Group to Lower Costs, Deliver Childcare for Every American Family

Scott, Ocasio-Cortez, Murray, Warren Establish Childcare for America Working Group to Lower Costs, Deliver Childcare for Every American Family

As momentum for childcare grows across country, Democrats lead charge in Congress

WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03), Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), established a new working group as the latest major push in Democrats' fight to lower costs and deliver childcare for every American family. The Childcare for America working group will bring Democratic members of Congress together to coordinate broad support for landmark childcare legislation.

"Our economy forces too many workers to choose between their jobs and caring for their children. Let's be clear. The childcare crisis cannot be solved without sustained public funding. We must expand access to affordable, quality early learning opportunities, provide childcare workers with the support they deserve, and give parents the freedom to pursue rewarding careers and contribute to our economic growth," said Ranking Member Scott.

"It is time that we deliver on our promise to give working families the quality, affordable childcare that they deserve. That is why I am proud to stand beside my colleagues to build a vision for the future of affordable childcare for all Americans," said Representative Ocasio-Cortez.

"Trump wants to spend our taxpayer dollars on a war with Iran that no one asked for-I want to make affordable childcare a reality for every family in America," said Senator Murray. "There's a split screen in Congress right now: Republicans want to burn money on tax cuts for billionaires and regime change wars-Democrats want to lower the cost of basics like childcare for families here at home. I'm linking arms with my colleagues to deliver a proposal that Americans everywhere can get behind to finally fix childcare in America. Americans deserve a more hopeful vision for the future than the Republican plan for government that just funds endless wars and cuts food stamps. Government can do good things to make life better for our families-let's finally make high-quality, affordable childcare accessible for every working family."

"Delivering high-quality childcare is one of the best tools we have to make life more affordable for families. In the richest nation in the world, we should invest in childcare like public infrastructure - not treat it like a privilege reserved for only the wealthiest Americans," said Senator Warren. "Democrats are leading the charge on lowering costs and delivering childcare for every American family."

The working group will be guided by the following principles:

1. Affordability: Family costs must be predictable and affordable, with payments capped at no more than 7 percent of income, free childcare for families with the lowest incomes, and guaranteed access with no waiting lists.
2. Childcare as Public Infrastructure: Federal funding must expand and stabilize childcare supply, support safe facilities, and ensure resources meet all families where they are.
3. Boosting Worker Pay: Childcare workers must be paid fairly and supported as professionals, with living wages, access to benefits, paid leave, retirement, and professional development.
4. High Quality and Accountability: Federal responsibility must be clear and enforceable, with the federal government covering at least 90 percent of system costs and having the ability to directly support localities when states fail to act, bolstered by strong reporting, oversight, and accountability standards.
5. Accessibility: The childcare system must meet families where they are, with support for nontraditional hours, inclusive care for children with disabilities and developmental needs, language access, culturally responsive services, and full-day, full-year integration with Head Start and Early Head Start.
6. Urgent Implementation: The federal government must provide investments and support to ensure the childcare supply scales up rapidly and addresses the immediate affordability crisis.

The new working group comes as momentum grows across the country for real progress on childcare, as families face rising costs and limited access. Childcare now averages more than $13,000 per year-up 29 percent since 2020-and in most states costs more than rent for many families, even exceeding in-state college tuition.

Independent polling shows that voters across the political spectrum say childcare is unaffordable. Seventy-two percent of Republican voters said increasing federal funding for childcare was an important priority, along with 70 percent of political independents and 90 percent of Democrats.

The Trump administration has worked to rip away childcare funding and support for families, including with recent efforts to freeze federal funds for childcare and family assistance in five states over debunked claims of potential fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds.

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