{"id":149895,"date":"2026-06-09T22:59:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T02:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=149895"},"modified":"2026-06-09T22:59:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T02:59:35","slug":"congressman-mackenzie-introduces-legislation-to-modernize-and-improve-childcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevalleyledger.com\/?p=149895","title":{"rendered":"Congressman Mackenzie Introduces Legislation to Modernize and Improve Childcare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, introduced bipartisan legislation today to help working families access the child care services they count on. The Child Care Modernization Act\u00a0<\/em>updates and reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) \u2014 a federal program which supports access to high-quality childcare services. Congressman Mackenzie was joined on the legislation by Reps. Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-MI), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), and Susie Lee (D-NV).<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking families in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos count on access to high-quality, affordable child care here in our community,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Mackenzie<\/strong>. \u201cAfter childcare costs\u00a0skyrocketed<\/a>\u00a0by 29% from 2020-2024, it\u2019s more important than ever that we deliver the relief and reform that working families need to thrive. By bringing federal childcare support in line with the modern needs of parents and providers, the bipartisan\u00a0Child Care Modernization Act\u00a0<\/em>will help to improve access, affordability, and quality for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParents are doing everything right and still struggling to find and afford child care,\u201d\u00a0said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet (D-MI).\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThis bill helps by cutting red tape, supporting child care providers, and giving families more choices. It won\u2019t solve the whole problem, but it\u2019s a step in the right direction. We need to keep pushing for the investments and reforms that working families deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Childcare remains one of the biggest household expenses for families in Iowa and across the country. After more than a decade without reauthorization, the federal government’s primary childcare program simply isn’t equipped to meet the needs of our families. That\u2019s why I helped introduce bipartisan legislation to expand access to affordable, quality childcare and ensure every working family can access quality, affordable childcare. This bill tackles barriers that make it harder to open and grow childcare facilities, creating more options for parents and strengthening our workforce. Family is at the heart of everything I do, and I’ll keep fighting to make it easier to raise one,\u201d\u00a0said Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no secret how ridiculously expensive child care is in Nevada. Three out of four kids in our state do not have access to a licensed child care provider \u2014 that\u2019s unacceptable. Parents shouldn\u2019t need to choose between having a full-time job or taking care of their kids,\u201d\u00a0said Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV).\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThis isn\u2019t a red or blue issue. I\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act to address this crisis by helping child care providers expand their reach and allowing more families in our community to access the high-quality child care they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChild care continues to shape the daily decisions of working families, influencing when and where parents can work and how they plan for the future,\u201d\u00a0said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe Child Care Modernization Act provides an important opportunity to strengthen and sustain the child care sector while helping states better address child care needs in real time. Families can\u2019t press pause on their child care needs, and this legislation helps expand child care options and respond to families\u2019 needs today. We\u2019re so grateful to Representatives Ryan Mackenzie, Susie Lee, Ashley Hinson, and Kristin McDonald Rivet for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to working together to expand child care options for families.\u201d<\/p>\n

“The moms who make up our 52 chapters across the country know how challenging it is to sit down and make a plan to afford childcare, which is the most expensive line item in many family budgets. The Child Care Modernization Act does something important for American families: it updates a program that’s been sitting on the shelf since 2014, starts fixing how childcare providers get paid, and takes seriously the fact that too many parents have no good childcare options anywhere near them. That matters. We need this bill\u2014and then we need to keep going.”\u00a0said Erin Erenberg, CEO, Chamber of Mothers<\/strong><\/p>\n

“This bipartisan bill reflects a shared understanding that our child care system can only thrive when we invest in both sides of the equation\u2014helping families afford and access high\u2011quality care and ensuring early educators and programs have the resources to provide it,\u201d\u00a0said Jen DeBell, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children<\/strong>. \u201cWe are especially encouraged by the provisions that require child care subsidy provider rates to be based on the true cost of delivering high\u2011quality care, including the compensation needed to recruit and retain a qualified workforce. Coupled with efforts to expand access to child care subsidies for families, this legislation represents meaningful progress toward a stronger early learning system.”<\/p>\n

“CCDBG has been a cornerstone bipartisan program for decades\u2014but it hasn’t been reauthorized in over ten years, and the gaps are showing. New Bipartisan Policy Center polling finds nearly half of caregivers struggle to find care that meets their needs, and 60% say difficulty accessing care caused someone in their household to miss work, reduce hours, or change jobs in the past year. A system that doesn’t reach families isn’t serving today’s workforce or building tomorrow’s. The Child Care Modernization Act takes a critical step by modernizing the way CCDBG works to better meet the real needs of working families. We commend Reps. Mackenzie (R-PA), McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Hinson (R-IA), and Lee (D-NV) for their cross-party leadership and urge Congress to advance this bill,”\u00a0said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Child Care Modernization Act is precisely the innovative policymaking we need in this moment of affordability crisis. Not only are parents struggling with bills, but child care providers are as well. Any effort that moves payments closer to the true cost of care for child care providers will alleviate burden on the system and thus reduce costs for working parents. We are thrilled to see this kind of bipartisan leadership in Congress,\u201d\u00a0said<\/strong>\u00a0Mai Miksic, Executive Director, Children First<\/strong><\/p>\n

Additionally, this legislation is supported by Afterschool Alliance, Alliance of New York State YMCAs, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, Child Care Aware of America, Children First PA, Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, First Five Nebraska, First Five Years Fund, Groundwork Ohio, Home Grown, Independent Restaurant Coalition, KinderCare Learning Companies, Learning Care Group, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), Moms First, Michigan’s Children, Mission Readiness, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Head Start Association (NHSA), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), National Child Care Association, National Children’s Facilities Network, National Conference of State Legislatures, Ready Nation, Save the Children, SCAN Iowa, Start Early, Tootris, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, YMCA of the USA, and Zero to Five Montana.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Child Care Modernization Act<\/em>\u00a0makes several key changes to the existing CCDBG, including:<\/p>\n