The 113th Congress begins with the second inauguration of
President Barack Obama. Democrats hold a majority in the Senate, and Republicans hold a majority in the
House. In 2014, Congress reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) for the first time
since 1996 in a unanimous, bipartisan vote. The reauthorization strengthens requirements for health and
safety standards, improves program quality through support for child care providers, and expands families’
access to consistent and stable child care. The reauthorization does not, however, include sufficient
funding for providers to implement these changes, spurring advocates to seek additional funding in subsequent years.
114th
Congress (2015-2016) • Bill count: 30
The 114th Congress proceeds under the leadership of President
Obama and a Republican-led Congress. In December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act is signed into law, replacing No Child Left Behind and
authorizing funding for the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five program, which had been funded at
$250 million annually from FY 2014 through FY 2016. The Birth through Five program delivers grants to
states to develop, update, and coordinate mixed-delivery early childhood care and education programs for
children ages 0 to 5.
115th Congress
(2017-2018) • Bill count: 18
The 115th Congress begins with the inauguration of President
Donald Trump, which brings the federal government to a Republican trifecta for the first time since the
109th Congress in 2005, under President George W. Bush. In February 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act is
signed into law; it includes the Family First Prevention Services Act, which amends the Social Security
Act to invest in prevention and family services to help keep children safe at home and in foster care.
CCDBG receives a funding increase of $2.37 billion during the FY 2018 appropriations process, nearly
double its funding from the previous year.
116th Congress
(2019-2020) • Bill count: 55
President Trump leads the 116th Congress, in which Republicans
hold a majority in the Senate and Democrats hold a majority in the House. On March 13, 2020, the United
States declares a national emergency due to the COVID-19 virus, and schools, child care
facilities, and businesses begin to close their doors in response to widespread stay-at-home orders. On
March 27, Congress passes the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which
provides $2.2 trillion in economic stimulus funding, including $3.5 billion for CCDBG and $750 million for Head Start. By May, the national unemployment rate reaches 14.7 percent, the highest since the Great
Depression.
In December 2020, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines begin to become available for people ages 18 and over. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all educators, including child care workers, be prioritized for
vaccines in the 1B tier, along with essential non-health care workers. Some states fail to follow this
guidance, though, and instead group child care workers in the 1C tier with other essential workers, such as food
service employees and construction workers; this means that many educators do not receive vaccines until
later, putting
them at risk as they continue to provide in-person essential care.
117th Congress (2021-2022) • Bill count: 60
The 117th Congress begin with the inauguration of President Joe
Biden. Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, and Democrats hold a majority in the House. The Build Back Better Act, which includes funding for universal preschool, child tax
credits, child care cost caps, and paid family leave, passes the House but not the Senate. The American
Rescue Plan becomes law in March 2021, providing significant but temporary emergency relief funds for
child and family health and nutrition, additional funding for CCDBG, and new funding for child care
agencies and providers to cover personnel and public health costs.
In June 2022, the CDC approves the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 5 years
old. In August, Senate Democrats reach an agreement to advance provisions from the House-passed Build Back
Better Act in the Inflation Reduction Act, which becomes law on August 16 but does not include any
investments for child care. During the appropriations
process for FY 2023, CCDBG receives an increase of $1.9 billion—a 30 percent increase above the
previous year—and other key programs, such as Head Start, also receive funding increases.
118th Congress (2023-2024) • Bill count: 108
The 118th Congress proceeds under the leadership of
President Biden, with Democrats holding control of the Senate and Republicans holding control of the House.
In his State of the Union address, Biden calls for paid leave and affordable child care. In March 2023, the
president releases his budget for FY 2024, which includes an explicit focus on expanding “access
to affordable, high-quality early child care and learning.” The budget proposes significant investments in
child care and early learning, including an increase of $980 million for CCDBG and additional funding for
Head Start, child care, and universal preschool as well as wage increases for Head Start teachers.