The House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, to evaluate state-led efforts to address child care affordability and availability. Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) stated the hearing focused on state initiatives and public-private partnerships as alternatives to sole reliance on federal programs.
The hearing, titled "Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions," was the third time this Congress the subcommittee met to discuss the sector. Kiley characterized child care as the "workforce behind the workforce," noting it is regulated by a mix of state laws, local ordinances, and municipal codes while facing challenges in maintaining staffing levels.
Kiley reported that the primary federal program for low-income families, the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), currently serves approximately 10 percent of the population needing care. He noted that the average annual cost for one child exceeds $13,000. Citing data from the Child Care Trust, Kiley stated that insufficient child care results in a long-term economic burden between $200 billion and $300 billion across households, businesses, and tax revenues.
Kiley identified small-business owners and large employers as stakeholders in local economic development strategies as states experiment with private-sector partnerships. He argued that federal policy should give states the freedom to utilize private partners and build child care solutions.
Kiley stated the hearing's purpose was to learn from states about the ways they are tackling child care. No specific legislation was voted on during the session.