Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 3/12/2025… Last week, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) along with Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act – bipartisan, bicameral legislation that together form a bold proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers.

Across the country, too many families cannot find – or afford – the high-quality child care they need so parents can go to work and children can thrive. Over the last few decades, the cost of child care has increased by 263%, forcing families – and mothers, in particular – to make impossible choices. 

More than half of all families live in child care deserts. Meanwhile, child care workers are struggling to make ends meet on the poverty-level wages they are paid and child care providers are struggling to simply stay afloat. The crisis—which was exacerbated by the pandemic—is costing our economy dearly, to the tune of $122 billion in economic losses each year.

New national polling in conjunction with First Five Years Fund (FFYF) reflects overwhelming bipartisan support for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), with 86% of voters in support of increasing the CDCTC. According to polling from Fabrizio Ward, 63% of all voters say helping working class families is their top priority when it comes to changes in tax policy.

“I’m proud to be working in a bipartisan, bicameral way with Senators Kaine and Britt and Rep. Carbajal to expand the child and dependent care tax credit. Putting more money back in the pockets of young working and middle-class families will help them achieve their financial goals, care for their kids, and provide a better future for all Americans,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

"Families on the Central Coast share a common concern: the high cost and limited availability of child care. Many families either can’t find the care they need or simply can’t afford it. At the same time, businesses are facing hiring challenges due to the shortage of child care options. The lack of affordable child care is holding back both families and local economies,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24). “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act, a bipartisan, bicameral child care package aimed at both modernizing tax programs to help families afford child care and strengthening the workforce.”

“This commonsense proposal is about more than just addressing our child care crisis - it is a direct investment in the hardworking families and local small businesses striving to achieve their American Dream across our nation. I’m proud of this effort to empower parents, which ultimately opens the door to more opportunities for their children and tackles our nation’s urgent workforce needs to help unleash a new era of American prosperity,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). “Our legislation is pro-family, pro-Main Street, and pro-growth. We are sending a strong message to the American people that we can and will get the job done to improve the affordability and accessibility of quality child care.”

“The child care crisis is holding our families and economy back. I hear from Virginia parents all the time about how hard it is to find affordable child care, from child care providers who are forced to leave their jobs because of low wages, and from businesses who are having trouble finding the employees they need,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, and I hope more of my colleagues will join us in passing this comprehensive proposal to support child care providers, make it easier for families to access the care they need, and boost economic growth by providing parents with the opportunity to get back into the workforce.”

The lawmakers were joined in the introduction of the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act by Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06).

“Child care costs are skyrocketing, and too many families are struggling to find affordable, quality options. That’s why I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan, bicameral child care package that will directly address these challenges. By modernizing tax incentives and creating new opportunities for the child care workforce, this legislation will ease the financial burden on parents and strengthen our local child care centers. This is a clear example of both parties coming together to prioritize working families and build stronger communities,” said Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-03).

“As a father of six, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find convenient and affordable child care,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06). “The high cost of care and an ongoing workforce shortage is leading to a crisis in child care that is affecting families in southern Arizona, and across the U.S. I’m proud to join Rep. Carbajal in this bold, bipartisan solution that makes child care more accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower costs as well as addressing the workforce shortage.”

“The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act is forward-thinking legislation that will tackle the child care challenges plaguing too many working parents, employers, and providers,” said FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling. “By refining tax credits and expanding access, this plan will deliver real relief to countless families. We’re grateful to Senators Britt, Kaine, Ernst, Shaheen, Curtis, and King for their leadership in finding bipartisan and practical solutions that put working families first.”

The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act is endorsed by American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPCA), Care.com, Chamber of Progress, Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA), Children's Institute, Early Care & Education Consortium (ECEC), Educare Learning Network, FFYF, Learning Care Group, KinderCare Learning Companies, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), National Child Care Association (NCCA), Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, Save the Children, Small Business Majority, Solvang Chamber of Commerce, Start Early, Third Way, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ventura Chamber of Commerce. In addition to those groups, the Child Care Workforce Act is endorsed by the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and ZERO TO THREE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.

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A copy of the full bill texts can be found here:

Child Care Availability and Affordability Act 

Child Care Workforce Act