The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the major federal program that helps low-income families access child care, must be reauthorized in Congress this year, along with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), in order for the programs to continue. In May the House passed legislation (HR4737) to reauthorize these programs. The legislation passed by the House only slightly increases the CCDBG funding for next year and does not ensure increased funding beyond next year.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee just reported out the Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments Act, a bill that reauthorizes the CCDBG and boosts discretionary funding for child care subsidies by $1 billion (to $3.1 billion) in the next fiscal year. It is extremely important that the Senate vote to reauthorize the legislation as well as increasing the funding to the program before adjourning in October. Failure to reauthorize and expand will severely limit access to child care as individual states cannot fund the program without the help of the federal government. Neglecting to expand funding for this child care program hinders families in transition from welfare to work and leaves many children without safe, high-quality child care.

Action

Call or contact your Senators and ask them to complete action on TANF (pronounced tan-if) and the Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendment Act (S2758) before adjourning in October. To reach the Washington office of any U.S. Senator or Representative, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the member by name.

Encourage them to support the amendment to increase CCDBG funding by $11.25 billion over the next five years-to compensate for increased work requirements-when the bill comes up on the Senate floor.

Background

Adequate funding for child care is crucial in the health and safety of children, their success in school, and in the ability of parents to find and maintain employment. Child care costs a family between $4,000 and $10,000 annually. This places extreme financial strain on families in which both parents work at minimum wage, whose total income is only $21,400. The Child Care and Development Block Grant helps many low-income families meet the high cost of child care but many eligible families do not receive subsidies because of insufficient funding. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates only one in seven children eligible for child care subsidies under federal law actually receives assistance through the CCDBG.

Studies have shown that providing a safe and stable environment in the early years of child development is crucial in the child's later learning and school success. Insufficient child care funding forces providers to cut corners in their care to lower costs. This, in turn lowers the quality of care for children. Children who receive low-quality care have shown delays in cognitive and language development, less social competence and cooperation and more problem behavior.

Women in low-wage jobs have limited resources to pay for child care and research demonstrates that without reliable care they have a more difficult time finding and retaining employment, as well as moving into better, higher-paying jobs. Low-income parents who cannot find reliable, affordable child care may be forced out of the work force and onto welfare in order to care for their children.

General Assembly

The 203rd General Assembly (1991) of the Presbyterian Church (USA):

Calls on the church and its members at all levels to advocate and support the development and implementation of public and private policies for the needs and rights of children, built on a prevention/investment strategy aimed at meeting the needs of all children and families for adequate health care (including immunizations, prenatal care, and nutrition), adequate and safe housing, quality child care and education, and protection from abuse and exploitation.