House Advances Major Child Care Access Bill as Global Reforms Take Shape

In a sweeping move to expand affordable early education, the U.S. House passed the Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025 on September 10, pressing a tax credit to support licensed family child care providers and modernize the workforce.

The legislation’s passage underscores widening bipartisan recognition of child care as critical social infrastructure, mirroring international reforms such as Australia’s new Three Day Guarantee Act and mounting grassroots pressure from providers.

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By enabling up to a $5,000 startup credit for family child care operators and strengthening licensing requirements, the U.S. bill aims to boost local supply and reduce fees for working families just as Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Act 2025 guarantees subsidized child care access from January 2026. Meanwhile, early educators in Maine rallied at the State House, demanding restoration of vital stipend funding to stem workforce attrition.

U.S. Expanding Child Care Access Act Passed

Representative Conaway’s Expanding Child Care Access Act of 2025 (H.R.1296) cleared the House floor with broad support, authorizing a new credit against federal income tax for qualified family child care providers.

  • Up to $5,000 of start-up expenses may be claimed per care provider each year.
  • Providers must meet state licensing standards and comply with local regulations to qualify.
  • Aims to incentivize new entrants and expand capacity in underserved areas.

Backers argue the credit will lower operational barriers for small, home-based providers and help stabilize fees for low- and middle-income families.

Maine Workers Stage Strike Over Stipend Cuts

Early childhood educators in Maine walked out of classrooms on September 10 to protest proposed budget reductions to a state stipend program. Under Governor Mills’s biennial budget, the monthly $540 educator stipend would be halved, threatening retention amid already low wages.

  • More than 7,000 educators stand to lose up to $270 monthly.
  • Providers warn cuts could trigger further staffing shortages and center closures.
  • Advocates pressed legislators to restore full funding to protect early learning quality and workforce stability.

Australia’s Three Day Guarantee Becomes Law

On February 20, Australia enacted the Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Act 2025, marking a landmark guarantee of subsidized child care. All eligible families will receive childcare subsidies covering three days per child per week beginning January 1, 2026.

  • Aligns federal child care subsidies with cost-of-living pressures.
  • Requires providers to meet new quality and safety regulations under amended Family Assistance Acts.
  • Positions Australia among a handful of nations enshrining early education as a guaranteed public benefit.

Looking Ahead

As lawmakers and advocates navigate funding debates, these converging reforms reflect a global shift: treating child care not as a private commodity but as essential public infrastructure. U.S. Senate deliberations will now determine the fate of the House-passed bill, while state budget negotiations and Australia’s implementation timelines will test political will to sustain these landmark policies.