WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), alongside Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Affordable Child Care Act – bipartisan legislation to help hardworking families access quality and affordable child care. This critical bill doubles three key tax credits, putting money directly back in parents’ pockets at a time when child care costs have soared to unsustainable levels.

As a longtime advocate for working families, Fitzpatrick has championed efforts to expand access to child care, ensuring families have the resources they need to provide a strong foundation for their children. His previous legislative efforts have focused on boosting child care affordability, strengthening parental leave protections, and expanding access to early childhood education. The Affordable Child Care Act builds on this commitment by modernizing long-overdue tax provisions to make child care more affordable for millions of American families.

According to a recent report, working parents with young children are now spending 24% of their income on child care—a financial burden that demands immediate action. The Affordable Child Care Act takes meaningful steps to relieve this strain by:

• Doubling the Child and Dependent Care Credit—Helps families offset child care expenses by doubling the credit to $6,000 for one dependent and $12,000 for two or more, making quality child care more affordable.

• Doubling the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit—Encourages businesses to invest in child care for their employees by doubling the credit to $300,000 per year, covering 25% of qualified child care facility and 10 percent of child care resource and referral expenses.

• Doubling Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Contributions—Empowers parents to save more pre-tax dollars for child care by raising the contribution limit to $10,000, helping families keep more of what they earn.

“The skyrocketing cost of childcare impacts not only the budgets but choices of working families in PA-1,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “No parent should be forced to choose between their family’s financial security and a quality future for their children. Our bipartisan Affordable Child Care Act delivers a bold solution by overhauling critical tax provisions—doubling three key tax credits—to ease this burden and empower families with the financial freedom they need to secure high-quality childcare.”

“Child care is critical for both our kids' futures and our workforce. High costs force many parents to cut back on work or go into debt,” said Rep. Davids. “As someone who grew up with a single mom, I know how important every dollar is. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan effort to make child care more affordable for families.”

"Working families are facing record-high costs for childcare, putting an enormous strain on parents throughout our country,” said Rep. Mackenzie. “My wife and I both work full time and as new parents we are acutely aware of the challenge facing millions of working families when it comes to finding affordable childcare. That’s why I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to deliver real relief for working families and create new opportunities for parents and children in the Greater Lehigh Valley and throughout the country."

“Caring for and investing in children results in positive, long-term benefits for their overall health, well-being, and economic mobility,” said Rep. Bonamici. “Doubling the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care Assistance Program, and the Employer-Sponsored Tax Credit is good policy that will create more opportunities for America’s families to thrive.”

“High quality child care continues to be out of reach for many American families, yet tax credits that could improve access and affordability have not been updated in decades,” said Radha Mohan, Executive Director, Early Care & Education Consortium. “While the Child Tax Credit helps families offset the general costs of raising a child, only the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit helps working families directly offset the cost of child care, allowing them to participate in the workforce knowing their children are in a safe and healthy environment. Expansions of the long-outdated Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, Employer-Provided Child Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care Assistance Program are critical pieces of a holistic child care solution. The Early Care and Education Consortium commends Congresswoman Davids and Congressman Fitzpatrick for introducing this important legislation.”

“The high cost of child care in the U.S. puts a strain on families, children and the economy,” said Christy Gleason, Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns for Save the Children. “Families need more affordable options, and employers need better ways to support working parents. The Affordable Child Care Act takes important steps to expand access to high-quality early education. That’s why Save the Children supports this bipartisan effort from Representatives Davids, Bonamici, Fitzpatrick, and Mackenzie — to help families manage the cost of care and make it easier for parents to stay in the workforce.”

“The U.S. tax code contains three provisions designed to help parents afford child care expenses, but they haven’t been updated in over twenty years to keep up with the rapid escalation in the cost of quality care,” said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director, First Five Years Fund. “The Affordable Childcare Act would update and expand each tax provision to ensure employers who are eager to play a more significant role can and that more hardworking families could find and afford the child care options they need. We are so grateful to Rep. Davids, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Bonamici, and Rep. Mackenzie for their bipartisan leadership on this important bill.”

This bill has been endorsed by Child Care Aware America, Early Care & Education Consortium, First Five Years Fund, Learning Care Group, and Advocacy and Campaigns for Save the Children.

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