In much of the country, child care now costs more than rent or a year of public college. For many parents, that bill decides whether they can work at all. Congress knows it, and the 119th session has seen a wave of child care bills from both parties. Here are the main ones and what each is trying to do.
A bipartisan starting point: the Child Care Modernization Act
The Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 (S.2828) is notable because it is bipartisan, introduced by Senators Deb Fischer, Kirsten Gillibrand, John Hickenlooper, and Susan Collins. It aims to strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the main federal program that helps lower-income families pay for care, by cutting red tape and making it easier for providers to stay open and for families to use their benefits.
The bigger investment: Child Care for Working Families Act
The Child Care for Working Families Act (H.R.4418) takes a larger swing. It would put significant new money into the system, including funding for the 2026 fiscal year and support for Head Start, with the goal of capping what working families pay for care and raising wages for the people who provide it. It is favored by many advocates but carries a much higher price tag, which makes its path harder.
Workforce and supply
Two more bills focus on the shortage of care itself. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act (H.R.581 and S.169) would fund grants to train and grow the child care workforce and build or expand facilities in places that simply do not have enough slots. The Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Act (H.R.6312) would test a model where the cost of care is split three ways, between the employer, the employee, and the state.
What it means for families
None of these bills has become law yet, and they reflect real disagreement about how big the federal role should be. But the shared thread is clear: lawmakers across the spectrum now treat child care as basic infrastructure for working families, not a private problem. If you are struggling with care costs today, your state's Child Care and Development Block Grant program may already offer help. You can find your state's program through Childcare.gov.