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On January 5, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) rescinding requirements from the 2024 final rule, which aimed to increase access to affordable care and fair payment for providers. The 2026 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) rescinds:
- The 7 percent cap on family co-payment.
- The requirement that states use some grants or contracts for direct services for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children in underserved geographic areas.
- The requirement to pay child care providers prospectively.
- The requirement to pay child care providers based on a child's enrollment rather than attendance.
CLASP, the Center for American Progress (CAP), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) have created this sign-on letter that calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to rescind this proposed rule. This letter is intended for local, state, and national organizations; please consider adding your organization’s support by filling out this form. We also acknowledge that organizations may be submitting their own comments, but please note that this letter can be signed in conjunction with other comments or letters.
Additionally, CLASP, CAP, NAEYC, NWLC, and Child Care Aware of America developed a template to support the submission of a public comment for the proposed rule, with opportunities to modify and personalize your response. Submission instructions can be found here.
Please email Alyssa Fortner ([email protected]) with any questions about signing on. We are collecting signatures until 9:00 am Eastern Time on February 4, 2026.
All comments are due here by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 4, 2026.
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