Increasing the Ability to Transfer TANF to CCDF in House Welfare Bill (H.R.4) Is Still Not the Answer to Unmet Child Care Needs

Publication Date: February 2003

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Rachel Schumacher

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The House welfare reauthorization bill (H.R.4) includes a $1 billion increase in federal mandatory Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding over five years, substantially less than what the Congressional Budget Office estimated last year would be necessary to pay for associated child care costs and keep pace with inflation. The bill also includes last years provision to increase the amount of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds states could transfer to CCDBG from 30 to 50 percent.

This paper argues that the expanded transfer authority will not be useful in addressing the unmet need for child care assistance among many eligible working families or the potential demand for child care that would result from increased work requirements.