Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Legislation to Support Working Parents

March 10, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), are cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to make child care more affordable and accessible for Maine families. TheChild Care Availability and Affordability Actwould strengthen existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers.Since 1990, the cost of child care and preschool hasincreased by 263%, forcing many families in Maine and nationwide to make difficult decisions such as not working, cutting back on hours to provide care or delaying paying bills. In addition, child care workers are struggling to make ends meet and child care providers are struggling to simply stay afloat. The crisis creates a costly drag on the national economy, resulting in$122 billionin economic losses annually.
“The lack of accessible, affordable child care is one of the top issues I hear about from Maine families, serving as a barrier for working parents seeking financial stability for their growing families,”said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would help break down these barriers by expanding the child care workforce and lowering the cost of child care programs.”
“Whenever I talk with Maine people about the economy, I hear that access to child care is a huge obstacle. When I sit down with business owners, they speak of the workforce shortage that’s holding them back — creating a drag on the state economy. This bill addresses both those challenges,”said Senator King.“TheChild Care Availability and Affordability Actwill unlock our state’s economic potential, invigorate our small and mid-size businesses, and support stronger households.”
TheChild Care Availability and Affordability Actwould make child care more affordable by:
The  legislationis cosponsored by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Katie Britt (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Curtis (R-UT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
Senator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hassecuredmore than $24 million since Fiscal Year 2022 for Congressionally Directed Spending projects to support child care centers across Maine. This week, Senator Collins along with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)introducedthe bipartisanLifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, which supports family caregivers, including those who care for children with disabilities and other long-term health challenges.
Senator King has long worked to expand access to child care. Previously he cosponsored theChild Care Workforce and Facilities Act,which would provide competitive grants for states to train child care workers and build or renovate child care facilities. He has alsosecured millionsto improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, andworked to authorizethe planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Senator King is also the cosponsor of theChild and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
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