OMAHA, Neb.—The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska released the following statement after the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 9, following its introduction in the U.S. Senate on Sept. 17, 2025. The legislation would renew the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program to ensure families can access—and afford—quality child care, with several key updates:
- Establishing new grants for child care facility construction and renovation to expand and improve the current supply of child care programs
- Updating CCDBG reimbursement rates to child care providers
- Supporting home-based providers
- Allowing states greater flexibility to expand income-based eligibility for families
“Quality early care and education is critical for working families and building young children’s brains. Yet, child care remains expensive and out of reach for too many families across America.
“The bipartisan introduction of the Child Care Modernization Act in the U.S. House of Representatives allows this critical legislation to move forward this Congress, with needed updates that will support underpaid and underappreciated early educators and expand child care access. These updates will help more families find and afford the high-quality care they need while also supporting a more stable, sustainable child care workforce.
“Thank you to Representatives Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Susie Lee (NV-03), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) for their support and introduction of this House bill, as well as Senators Deb Fischer (NE), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), John Hickenlooper (CO), and Susan Collins (ME) for their introduction of the companion bill in the Senate last year, which the Institute has also endorsed.”