On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris made a big announcement regarding the government’s initiatives to offer families around the country access to affordable child care.
The government intends to impose a cap on the sum that families must pay for child care as part of the Child Care & Development Block Grant program.
Limiting Child Care Costs
Harris spoke about the specifics of a Department of Health and Human Services proposal that would implement an executive order that President Joe Biden signed in April.
Families would be allowed to use the program to pay for child care costs up to 7% of their income under the proposed rule.
This program attempts to lessen the financial strain on families and make sure that daycare centers are paid on time for their services.
Additionally, the plan encourages governments to establish online application systems in order to shorten the application process and make it simpler for families to acquire child care services.
Harris made a point of highlighting the possible savings that families might realize as a result of this campaign.
She gave the example of a family in Montana making $46,000 a year, pointing out that they might save about $80 each month, or more than $1,000 annually.
This extra cash might be put to use for necessities like groceries, gas, or even house repairs like patching a leaky roof.
Currently, 1.5 million kids are supported through the Child Care & Development Block Grant program.
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Joe Biden Administration’s Initiative
However, it is important to note that just 14 states now follow the government’s 2016 recommendation to set aside 7% of family income for accessible child care.
It is anticipated that introducing the proposed rule will lower child care expenditures for about 80,000 families.
The rule would also completely exempt payments for families making up to or less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold, thereby increasing access to affordable child care for those who most need it.
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