Child Care Workforce Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/846
Last Updated: April 5, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

ID: B001319

Follow the money

The bill

Child Care Workforce Act

S. 846, 119th Congress — read as touching For-Profit Education & Student Loans.

The sponsor

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$79,800 raised

26 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

March 18, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative futility, courtesy of the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this mess, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Child Care Workforce Act (S 846) claims to address the pressing issue of low wages for child care workers by establishing a pilot program to supplement their salaries. The stated objectives are to attract and retain qualified workers, improve their well-being, enhance the quality of child care services, and increase access to affordable care.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a new grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund state-level initiatives that boost wages for eligible child care workers. The grants will be awarded based on factors such as the number of children under 5, the average wage of child care workers, and the percentage of families eligible for subsidies but not receiving them.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The obvious beneficiaries are child care workers, who might see a temporary increase in their wages. States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations will receive funding to implement these programs. However, let's not forget the real stakeholders: the politicians who sponsored this bill (Britt, Kaine, Shaheen, King, and Gillibrand) and the lobbyists who likely pushed for its creation.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This legislation is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It doesn't address the systemic issues driving low wages in the child care industry, such as lack of funding, inadequate training, and poor working conditions. The grants will likely be insufficient to make a meaningful difference, and the program's impact will be short-lived once the funding dries up.

In reality, this bill is a cynical attempt to buy votes from parents and caregivers while maintaining the status quo. It's a classic case of "throwing money at a problem" without addressing its root causes. The politicians behind this bill are more interested in scoring points with their constituents than in genuinely improving the lives of child care workers.

Diagnosis: This legislation suffers from a severe case of " Politician-itis," characterized by symptoms such as:

* A lack of understanding of the underlying issues * A reliance on superficial solutions * An overemphasis on short-term gains rather than long-term benefits * A failure to address the root causes of the problem

Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong critical thinking framework, and a willingness to challenge the assumptions behind this legislation. Unfortunately, these are rare commodities in Washington D.C.

Prognosis: This bill will likely pass, but its impact will be minimal, and it will ultimately fail to address the systemic issues plaguing the child care industry. Mark my words: we'll be back here in a few years, discussing the same problems and proposing similar "solutions."

Related Topics

State & Local Government AffairsLabor & Employment Policy
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$79,800
20 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$12,100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$67,700

No PAC contributions found

1
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
2 transactions
$6,600
2
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$2,500
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$2,000
4
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
SINGER, PAUL
2 transactions
$6,600
2
HALL, GEORGE STEWART
2 transactions
$6,600
3
HALL, LISA
2 transactions
$6,600
4
ARNOLD, LAURA
2 transactions
$6,600
5
STRONG, MIRANDA
1 transaction
$5,000
6
STEPHENS, TYLER
1 transaction
$3,300
7
LAMPTON, III, LESLIE B.
1 transaction
$3,300
8
LAMPTON, ROBERT HOWARD
1 transaction
$3,300
9
SIMMONS, KYLE
1 transaction
$3,300
10
LEOPOLD, ROBIN
1 transaction
$3,300
11
COOK, LYN S.
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CAMERON, ARTHUR
1 transaction
$3,300
13
OLMEM, ANDREW
1 transaction
$3,300
14
LAKE, MARIANNE
1 transaction
$3,300
15
LEE, ARNOLD H.
1 transaction
$3,300
16
LEE, HYO SANG
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

ID: K000384

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,300
Jun 18, 2024
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 26, 2023
3
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$1,000
Jun 18, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 25, 2024
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 18, 2024
6
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$1,000
Oct 15, 2024
7
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Dec 29, 2023
8
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$600
Oct 25, 2023
9
STONEHALL FARM
OrganizationTHE PLAINS, VA
$500
Jun 30, 2024
10
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$400
Oct 25, 2023

Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

ID: S001181

Top Contributors

10

1
TILT LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE LLC
OrganizationPLYMOUTH, MI
$250
Feb 6, 2024
2
HAWASH, NOUR
BLINK TECH INC.VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$6,600
Dec 12, 2024
3
HAWASH, NOUR
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$6,600
Dec 23, 2024
4
HAWASH, NOUR
BLINK TECH INC.VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
5
HAWASH, NOUR
BLINK TECH INC.VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
6
HAWASH, SAFA
ACCLIVITY LLCBUSINESS CONSULTANT
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024
7
HAWASH, SAFA
ACCLIVITY LLCBUSINESS CONSULTANT
IndividualDUNN LORING, VA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024
8
JONDY, JENAN
N/ANOT EMPLOYED
IndividualFLUSHING, MI
$3,300
Dec 16, 2024
9
KANDIL, MARIAM
SELF-EMPLOYEDBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualGREAT FALLS, VA
$3,300
Dec 16, 2024
10
KANDIL, MARIAM
SELF-EMPLOYEDBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualGREAT FALLS, VA
$3,300
Dec 16, 2024

Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

ID: K000383

Top Contributors

10

1
2120 SEA ISLAND LLC
OrganizationRIVER FOREST, IL
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
May 22, 2024
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,000
Mar 29, 2024
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,300
May 22, 2024
5
SMITH, BRAD
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONATTORNEY
IndividualBELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Feb 13, 2024
6
SMITH, BRAD
IndividualBELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Feb 20, 2024
7
DOWNEY, NANCY A.
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Sep 4, 2024
8
DOWNEY, NANCY A.
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Aug 31, 2024
9
OTTEN, LESLIE B.
AMERICAN SKIING COMPANYOWNER
IndividualBETHEL, ME
$5,000
Oct 4, 2024
10
BEKENSTEIN, ANITA
NOT EMPLOYEDRETIRED
IndividualWAYLAND, MA
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

ID: G000555

Top Contributors

10

1
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023
2
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$3,300
Mar 29, 2023
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,000
Mar 15, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$600
Jun 22, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$400
Jun 22, 2023
6
STRICKLER, DANIEL B. JR.
BEECHTREE CAPITAL PARTNERS INC.INVESTMENTS
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,200
Mar 24, 2023
7
ROSENWALD, E. JOHN JR.
JP MORGANVICE CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$5,800
Oct 16, 2023
8
ROSENWALD, E. JOHN JR.
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$5,800
Nov 3, 2023
9
VENNERBERG, VAUGHN II
XTO ENERGY INCPRESIDENT
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$5,800
Mar 14, 2023
10
VENNERBERG, VAUGHN II
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$5,800
Mar 27, 2023

Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

ID: K000367

Top Contributors

10

1
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
OrganizationCASS LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Aug 25, 2023
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$2,500
Oct 7, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$2,300
Jul 17, 2023
5
ARISTOTLE INTERNATIONAL
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$500
Jul 19, 2024
6
SMITH, BRADFORD
MICROSOFT CORPORATIONATTORNEY
IndividualBELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
7
SMITH, BRADFORD
IndividualBELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
8
BADEN, DREW
PROFESSORUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
IndividualBETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Feb 23, 2024
9
CAUCHY, CONSTANCE
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualMIDLAND, MI
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
10
BADEN, DREW
IndividualBETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Mar 11, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 66 nodes and 41 connections (66 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $124,850

Top Donors - Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

4 Orgs16 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.

  • The bill funds wage supplements for child care workers, which could benefit for-profit child care providers (included in for-profit education) by reducing labor costs and improving staff retention. Section 4(c)(2) requires commitment to using grant funds to supplement wages of eligible child care workers, and Section 5(a) mandates use of funds solely for wage supplements, directly aiding employers in the child care sector.

  • Hospitals and health systems often operate employer-sponsored child care centers for employees. By increasing wages and retention of child care workers (Sec. 4 purpose, Sec. 5 use of funds), the bill could reduce operational burdens on these systems, improving employee access to reliable child care.

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