Gallego Backs Legislation to Make Child Care Affordable for Working Families

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)is backing theChild Care for Working Families Actto ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.
“As childcare becomes increasingly unaffordable, Arizona families are getting crushed by the cost,”said Senator Gallego.“This bill would cap what working families pay, expand access to high-quality care, and set children up for success. That’s what being pro-family is about.”
The cost of child care nationwide continues to rise, and instead of helping tackle it, President Trump is exacerbating the affordability crisis. The average cost of child care is now $13,128—a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two childrenexceeds median rent—and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceedsin-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economyover $100 billion each year.
At the same time, Trump hasguttedoversightof and support for the federal child care office,held up child care funding to states,held up Head Start funding, and now created massive holes in states’ budgets with the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—which may well force states to scale back on their own investments in child care. Whiletwo-thirds of Americansoppose Republicans’ budget bill that President Trump signed into law earlier this month, overthree-quarters of Americanssupport increased investment to help families afford child care.
To tackle the child care crisis head-on, theChild Care for Working Families Actwill:
Full text of the legislation is availableHERE.
7/18/25