Child Care Legislation Summary.

Farm Bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, which includes a provision for child care. The cap on the child care deduction for families that qualify for the Food Stamp program will be eliminated. With the cap removed, more families will qualify for Food Stamp benefits and, as a result, be better able to afford both food and child care. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he plans to bring this bill to the floor on November 5th.

Appropriations Update
The House and Senate are working out the differences between the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriation bills in Conference. The House version increases funding for both the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start by $75 million. The Senate version contains a $200 million increase for Head Start and no increase for CCDBG. The House and Senate are expected to complete their conference and resolve the differences between the two bills by next week. To speak to your Senator or Representative about funding CCDBG and Head Start, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224 – 3121 and ask to speak to your Member of Congress or click here to find the name and contact information of your Senator or Representative.

Early Education Workforce Act
Last week, Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Early Education Workforce Act (H.R. 3966) to help states develop and implement comprehensive professional development and career systems for early childhood.
The bill:
 Provides competitive grants to states to establish task forces to comprehensively address the range of areas related to the child care workforce.
 Requires the development of a plan regarding the State’s early childhood development and career system as well as an evaluation of its effectiveness.

Quality Child Care for America Act
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Quality Child Care for America Act (S.2187, H.R.3870) to help the child care workforce gain access to education and training and improved compensation. The bill would provide $200 million in funds to states for initiatives to expand education and training opportunities for the child care workforce and improve compensation or benefits.