The Senate’s $6 Billion Child Care Provision: A Critical, but Modest, Investment


 

Publication Date: April 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Danielle Ewen

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

In March, the Senate Finance Committee passed its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization bill—the bipartisan PRIDE bill—that includes $6 billion in new federal funds for child care assistance.

The paper argues that while the $6 billion would keep pace with inflation over the next five years and would meet the cost of a limited increase in TANF work participation requirements, it will not expand access or increase quality of federal child care assistance.