Child Care Modernization Act of 2025

The Child Care Modernization Act of 2025 would update the Child Care and Development Block Grant program, which provides federal funding to help low-income families afford child care. The bill would reauthorize this program, which has not been updated since 2014, and would give states more flexibility in managing child care programs while encouraging parental choice in selecting care options.

If enacted, the bill would strengthen child care services by changing how states set provider payment rates to better compensate child care workers. It would also establish grant programs to expand child care supply and improve facilities in underserved areas, including rural regions. Additionally, the legislation would support workforce development to recruit and train qualified child care professionals and would streamline health and safety requirements to reduce administrative burdens on providers.

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with hearings held in March 2026. It has bipartisan support from Senators Fischer, Collins, and Gillibrand.