Child Care and Development Block Grant Poised for Reauthorization

The U.S. Senate reconvened this week and one of the first items on its agenda is the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant, S. 1086 (CCDBG) The legislation has been 18 years in the making – there hasn’t been a reauthorization since 1996.

CCDBG provides funding to assist working poor families in affording child care and to improve child care quality. According to Child Care of America, CCDBG funds allow on average 77,900 North Carolina children to attend early child care and learning programs.

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr has played an instrumental role in moving the CCDBG reauthorization forward. He was part of a bipartisan group that negotiated the legislation. The group included Representatives John Kline (R-MN), George Miller (D-CA), Todd Rokita (R-IN), and David Loebsack (D-IA), and Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

According to a brief by the Early Learning Policy Group, the legislation “improves the quality of child care by requiring basic health and safety protections for children whose care is paid for by taxpayer dollars. The funds set-aside for state activities to improve the quality of care will require more accountability for the use of those dollars. In addition, more emphasis will be placed on strengthening the child care workforce, the cornerstone of quality child care.”

North Carolina relies heavily on federal funding for child care subsidy, both through CCDBG and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. Over the past several years, the state has significantly decreased the amount of state general funding appropriated for child care subsidy.

Take Action

  1. Call Senator Burr and thank him for his support: (202) 224-3154.
  2. Contact your representative and let him/her know why CCDBG is important for your community.
  3. Tweet and Post to Facebook your support. Sample tweets include:
  • Thank you @SenatorBurr for supporting #CCDBG. High quality #ece is good for #NC children, families and the economy.
  • With high quality #ece children are school ready, graduate & grow into productive citizens. Support #CCDBG reauthorization.
  • 20 yrs is a long time! Reauthorize #CCDBG to support children’s #first2000days and build a thriving #NC.

More Information 
For the Early Learning Policy Group’s bill summary, click here. 
For a copy of the bipartisan press announcement, click here.
For a copy of the bill, click here.