Spending bill would double child care funding for low-income families

The spending bill released Wednesday would double the amount of funding provided for child care for low-income working families.

The Child Care Development Block Grant would see a $2.3 billion increase in fiscal 2018, bringing the program’s total budget to $5.2 billion. If passed, it would be the largest single-year increase in the program’s history. 

The omnibus will also include a $610 million increase to Head Start, a program that provides preschool for low-income families. 

The increases were pushed for by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the Senate’s health committee. 

“I’ve heard from families across Washington state and the country about their struggles to find and afford high-quality child care and early learning, so I’m pleased Congress listened to the voices of parents, teachers, advocates, and local community members, and agreed to increase investments in Head Start and agreed to the biggest increase of child care funding ever,” Murray said in a statement. 

 “As a former preschool teacher, I know that investing in our youngest learners isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smartest thing we can do — so I hope we can keep working together until high-quality, affordable early learning and care is a reality for all.”