PRESS RELEASE: NWLC Helps Secure Critical Child Care Funding in Bipartisan Spending Bill

Washington, DC – In response to advocacy led by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Congress reached a bipartisan agreement, championed by Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA), with help from other top appropriators including Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME), House Appropriations Ranking Member Rose DeLauro (D-CT), and House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK), to include $500 million for child care in the continuing resolution (CR) and disaster relief package released last night. Half of the $500 million is designated to assist child care systems in states recovering from recent natural disasters, which is a priority that NWLC led calls for last month.

“We are thrilled that Congress has heeded our calls to include critical emergency funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program in the bill, and we are deeply grateful to Senators Murray and Collins, as well as Representatives DeLauro and Cole, for their leadership in securing this essential funding” said Melissa Boteach, vice president of income security and child care at NWLC. “More than 150 organizations advocated for this funding because we recognize the urgent challenges facing providers and families in states hit hard by recent natural disasters.

“We also commend our congressional champions for ensuring that families can continue to put food on the table, even after experiencing the devastating theft of their SNAP benefits. While we are disappointed that this agreement didn’t include funding for Head Start or the WIC program, which provides essential food assistance for mothers and infants, it includes other critical support for families in crisis, which is why we urge Congress to pass it without delay.”

Highlights of the Bipartisan CR Agreement: 

  • $250 million for disaster-affected states: Funds to repair, construct, and improve child care facilities impacted by natural disasters, distributed through CCDBG.
  • $250 million for nationwide improvements: Funds to enhance affordability, access, and quality of child care programs in all states through CCDBG.
  • Protections for SNAP recipients: Measures to restore stolen benefits, ensuring continued access to food assistance