Bill Overview
Title: Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and expands programs and services under the Child Care and Development Fund. Among other changes, the bill expands eligibility to include families earning not more than 150% of the state medium income if the state provides an appropriate opportunity for families earning not more than 85% of the state median income to receive services.
Sponsors: Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
Target Audience
Population: Families utilizing child care services under the Child Care and Development Block Grant
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill reauthorizes and expands the Child Care and Development Fund, which aims to assist low and middle-income families in accessing child care services.
- Families earning up to 150% of the state median income become eligible if their state already provides opportunities for families earning up to 85% of the state median income.
- The Child Care and Development Fund serves millions of children nationwide, particularly those from low-income families.
- Expanding eligibility with this bill means more families will gain access to child care subsidies, easing financial burdens and potentially enabling greater workforce participation.
Reasoning
- The Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2022 expands the eligibility for families to receive child care support, which could significantly increase access for low and middle-income families across the United States.
- The budget constraints focus on a considerable amount committed over a decade, allowing gradual but significant expansion of services, assisting potentially 50 million people.
- The impact on individual families will vary depending on their income level relative to state median income and their existing access to child care resources.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This new policy could make a big difference for me. Child care costs take up a huge portion of my paycheck.
- If I qualify for the subsidy, I might be able to start saving a bit and reduce stress about finances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
IT Specialist (Columbus, OH)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We might qualify under the new threshold, which would be great because child care expenses are high.
- Even with two incomes, it’s tough to manage costs, so this policy would really help us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could relieve a huge financial burden for me.
- If eligible, I can work more without worrying about child care costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Small Business Owner (Boston, MA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We just barely went over the current eligibility line, so new thresholds would help us a lot.
- It could free up funds for reinvestment in my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Denver, CO)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy comes through, my budgeting for child care would be so much easier.
- I could take on more freelance projects if I can afford reliable child care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Financial Consultant (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We don't qualify now and I don't think we'll qualify even with changes, but it should help a lot of people.
- I'm supportive of the policy as it could enable clients in lower income brackets to better manage finances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Logistics Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We might fall into this new bracket. If so, it would reduce stress on our household budget considerably.
- Any assistance that helps my family while maintaining stability in work is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Administrative Assistant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Child care costs are a big drain on my income, so any help from this would be amazing.
- Hopefully, it’ll help not just financially but also allow me to work more relaxed knowing my child is well cared for.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy eases child care costs, my partner and I can focus on our careers better without constant worry about finances.
- Hoping it will enable more work-life balance and less stress about money.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Meeting the new eligibility criteria would vastly improve my ability to pay for child caresince I support my kids alone.
- This would relieve some anxiety about making ends meet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5500000000)
Year 2: $5200000000 (Low: $4700000000, High: $5700000000)
Year 3: $5408000000 (Low: $4896000000, High: $5912000000)
Year 5: $5864668800 (Low: $5278201920, High: $6451135680)
Year 10: $7181460170 (Low: $6463314153, High: $7899606187)
Year 100: $14808635636 (Low: $13327772072, High: $16289589199)
Key Considerations
- State-level variations in median income could lead to differential impacts on eligibility and uptake.
- The precise cost will depend on exact enrollment figures and variability in child care costs across states.
- The policy's success in increasing workforce participation depends on availability of child care providers.