Congress guarantees child care for low-income families, removes state spending caps
H.R. 9993 — Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026 · Filed by Gwen Moore (D-WI) · Introduced Jul 30, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill converts child care assistance from a capped, discretionary program into an open-ended entitlement for TANF recipients and former recipients (for 24 months after leaving the program). It eliminates state spending caps, guarantees child care services as a condition of receiving TANF funds, and creates a 75% federal matching rate for home-based child care provider wage supplements. The bill also funds a $20 million/year HHS research portfolio on these changes.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is converting a capped, discretionary child care assistance program into an open-ended federal entitlement tied to TANF receipt, with no state spending limits and guaranteed access for eligible populations.
What the text implies
- Open-ended entitlement language ('such sums as are necessary') creates unlimited federal liability without explicit appropriations caps, potentially triggering budget reconciliation or fiscal pressure in future Congresses.
- 24-month transition guarantee for former TANF recipients may incentivize program exit if child care is perceived as the primary benefit, altering labor-force participation patterns.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
low-income working families (TANF recipients and former recipients); home-based child care providers (wage supplement beneficiaries); child care service providers (expanded demand)