Congresswoman Lee Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Increasing Access to Affordable Child Care

June 9, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Child Care Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care. “It’s 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 – that's unacceptable. Parent’s shouldn’t need to choose between having a full-time job or taking care of their kids,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This isn’t a red or blue issue. I’m 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.” The Child Care Modernization Act updates and reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) — a federal program which supports access to high-quality childcare services. CCDBG is the primary federal program that helps states assist lower-income families with child care costs. But in Nevada, CCDBG currently reaches only 10% of eligible children who qualify. The difference CCDBG makes for the families it does reach in Nevada is significant: Without CCDBG: Average cost of center-based infant care: $1,055 per month/$12,659 per year With CCDBG Subsidy: Maximum copayment for care, family of 3: $90 per month/$1,080 per year Savings With CCDBG: families save approximately $965 per month/$11,579 per year The bipartisan, bicameral Child Care Modernization Act would help working families with young children by strengthening CCDBG. The legislation would: Give parents more options through new supply and facilities grants. Support child care professionals with more accurate reimbursement rates. Provide new technical assistance to in-home and rural providers. Enable states to better meet the growing child care needs of working families, providers, and employers. The full text is available here . Congresswoman Lee is leading the Child Care Modernization Act with Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) . “Working families in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos count on access to high-quality, affordable child care here in our community,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “After childcare costs skyrocketed by 29% from 2020-2024, it’s 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 Child Care Modernization Act will help to improve access, affordability, and quality for everyone.” “Parents are doing everything right and still struggling to find and afford child care,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “This bill helps by cutting red tape, supporting child care providers, and giving families more choices. It won’t solve the whole problem, but it’s a step in the right direction. We need to keep pushing for the investments and reforms that working families deserve.” “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’s 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,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. The Child Care Modernization Act is endorsed by more than three dozen state and national organizations, including the First Five Years Fund, Independent Restaurant Coalition, Chamber of Moms, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, National Head Start Association, Save the Children, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and YMCA of the USA. “Child care continues to shape the daily decisions of working families, influencing when and where parents can work and how they plan for the future,” said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund. “The 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’t press pause on their child care needs, and this legislation helps expand child care options and respond to families’ needs today. We’re so grateful to Representatives Ryan Mackenzie, Susie Lee, Ashley Hinson, and Kristen McDonald Rivet for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to working together to expand child care options for families.” “The hospitality and restaurant workforce that powers Nevada works nights, weekends, and holidays — exactly the hours when child care is hardest to find. Too many of our best people have had to cut hours or leave the industry altogether because they couldn't piece together reliable care for their kids. The Child Care Modernization Act addresses that directly, and we're proud to have Rep. Susie Lee leading this fight,” said MarySue Millken, Chef and Owner, Border Grill. “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—and then we need to keep going,” s aid Erin Erenberg, CEO, Chamber of Mothers. “CCDBG has been a cornerstone bipartisan program for decades—but 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,” says Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action. In Nevada, the average annual price of full-time, center-based child care is over $10,000-12,000 for infants, toddlers, and 4-year-olds. Additionally, 70% of American parents say raising children is too expensive, and finances are the main reason families limit the number of children they have. In Nevada, 72% of people live in a child care desert where there are either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots. Congresswoman Lee is leading efforts in Congress to reduce child care costs for working families. She is leading the Small Business Child Care Expansion Act , bipartisan legislation to address the child care affordability crisis by allowing non-profit child care centers to access the same types of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available to for-profit businesses. This would help child care providers expand their businesses to meet demand and increase access to affordable, high-quality child care for southern Nevada families. ### Issues : Health Care