# Child Care Stabilization Act: Plain Language Summary

This bill provides $16 billion per year for five years (2024-2028) to help stabilize the child care industry and make it more affordable and accessible for working families. The money goes directly to child care providers—like daycare centers, preschools, and in-home care operations—to help them cover their operating costs without raising prices for parents. Think of it as a financial cushion that allows providers to keep their doors open and their services affordable.

The bill tackles a real problem many families face: child care is expensive, hard to find, and providers struggle to stay in business. By giving providers stable funding, the bill aims to accomplish several things at once. First, it helps child care workers earn better wages so the industry can attract and keep qualified staff—right now many early childhood educators leave the field because pay is too low. Second, it expands the availability of child care in areas where it's scarce, including infant and toddler care, care during nights and weekends for shift workers, rural communities, and specialized care for children with disabilities. Third, it keeps costs down for families by ensuring providers don't have to raise fees to survive financially.

The money comes from the federal government and will be distributed through existing child care programs. A small portion (up to 1 percent) can be used for administrative costs and training to help providers use the funds effectively. Essentially, this bill is an investment in making child care work better for everyone—giving parents more options and lower costs while helping child care providers build sustainable businesses and pay their workers fairly.

Child Care Stabilization Act

Clark, Katherine M.

Child Care Stabilization Act This bill provides additional funding through FY2028 for child care stabilization grants under which lead state agencies make subgrants to child care providers for personnel costs, facility costs, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and other costs related to providing child care services.