WASHINGTON, D.C.–Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Bobby Scott (D-VA), senior members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statements today upon the House's passage of a bill to improve and reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act.
"The Child Care and Development Block Grant is an indispensable resource for millions of children and families nationwide," said Rep. Miller, senior Democrat on the committee. "CCDBG enables parents to send their kids to safe, high quality and affordable child care so that they can work or attend a training program and provide for their families. Meanwhile, the program helps to place children in the sorts of environments they need for healthy growth and development. The bipartisan, bicameral agreement passed today by the House improves child care access, makes critical new investments, and helps to ensure children are safe and are receiving quality care. These updates to CCDBG are vital for our children, our families, and our nation's future."
"I am pleased the House acted swiftly to pass the reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant. This bipartisan effort shows that when Congress comes together with a spirit of compromise and a common goal that we are able to actually get things done and accomplish what the American people sent us here to do," said Rep. Loebsack, ranking member on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. "This revamp of the CCDBG will bring important safety and quality improvements to child care delivery in our country and support working families as they strive to enter the middle class."
"Quality child care offers children vital early learning experiences that will set them on a path toward success in school, in the workforce and in the rest of their lives," said Rep. Scott, a senior committee Democrat. "This long overdue update of the Child Care and Development Block Grant program will significantly improve services, quality and access for our nation's children."
The legislation includes commonsense reforms to:
· Promote high-quality child care by increasing state-level investments in activities to improve the quality of care, enhancing states' ability to train providers and develop safer and more effective child care services.
· Strengthen health and safety requirements in child care programs and providers.
· Improve access to child care by expanding eligibility for participating families and helping families connect with quality programs that meet their needs.
The full text of the bill is available here.
###
