H.R. 4418: Child Care for Working Families Act
Sponsor
Robert Scott
Democrat · VA-3
No family should pay more than 7% of income for child care
Why it matters
Under H.R. 4418, a family earning up to 85% of its state's median income would pay nothing for child care, and no eligible family would pay more than 7% of income. The bill pairs that price cap with $9 billion a year for preschool and a pay floor for the people who do the work.
H.R. 4418, the Child Care for Working Families Act, sets up a child care guarantee for kids under 6 who haven't started kindergarten. Your child qualifies if you're working, looking for work, in school or job training, in treatment, dealing with family violence, or on family or medical leave.
Families at or below 85% of their state's median income would pay nothing, and no eligible family would pay more than 7% of income. Between those points the copay climbs in steps: up to 2% of income at 100% of median, up to 4% at 125%, and up to 7% at 150%. There is no income ceiling. Families above 150% of median still qualify, at a flat 7%.
States would have to reach every eligible child from a family at or below 85% of median income by October 1, 2026. Providers could not charge families more than the copay.
The other half of the bill is supply. States would set provider payments based on what care actually costs, and those payments must cover a living wage for staff, at least matching what elementary school teachers with similar credentials earn in that state.
It also funds free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, with $9 billion a year in early education grants and a federal match that starts at 90%. Preschool and Head Start programs would have to run long enough to cover a working parent's day: at least 1,020 hours a year, and 1,380 for infant and toddler programs.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
H.R. 4418 Bill Summary
What H.R. 4418 actually does.
Child care capped at 7% of income
Families at or below 85% of state median income pay no copay. Above that, copays rise in bands (up to 2%, 4%, then 7% of income), and every family above 150% of median pays 7%.
Parents in school, treatment, or on leave also qualify
Children under 6 who haven't entered kindergarten are eligible if a parent is working, job hunting, in school or training, receiving treatment, addressing family violence, or on qualifying family or medical leave.
No surprise charges on top of the copay
Once a state sets payment rates based on the real cost of care, providers taking these funds cannot charge families more than their capped copay.
Child care workers paid like elementary teachers
Provider payment rates must cover at least a living wage for all staff and match pay for elementary educators with similar credentials in the state, adjusted each year for cost of living.
Free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds
Early education grants receive $9 billion a year from 2026 through 2031. The federal share of universal preschool starts at 90% in 2026 and 2027 and declines to 60% by 2031.
Programs that cover a working day
Preschool and Head Start center-based programs must provide at least 1,020 hours a year. Early Head Start center-based and family child care programs must provide 1,380 hours.
No suspending or expelling small children
Funded providers may not use suspension, expulsion, or aversive behavioral interventions.
Who benefits from H.R. 4418?
Parents paying rent-sized daycare bills
A family earning $120,000 would pay no more than $8,400 a year, or $700 a month, for all eligible kids combined. In many cities, infant care alone costs more than that.
Lower- and middle-income families
Families at or below 85% of their state's median income would pay nothing. States would have to reach every eligible child in that group by October 1, 2026.
Parents between jobs, in school, or on leave
Eligibility isn't limited to paid work. A parent who is job hunting, finishing a degree, in treatment, or on family leave keeps the child's spot.
Child care and Head Start workers
Pay must at least reach a living wage and match elementary teachers with similar credentials. Head Start gets a separate $2.7 billion a year for wages.
Who is affected by H.R. 4418?
State governments
States would run the system, build cost models to set payment rates, and take on a growing share of preschool costs as the federal match falls from 90% to 60%.
Child care providers
Providers gain higher, cost-based payment rates, but must meet quality tiers, wage requirements, and a ban on charging above the copay, with 3.5 years to meet certain standards.
Preschool teachers
Lead teachers would need a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field within 6 years after state funding begins.
Head Start and Early Head Start operators
Programs would move to longer schedules: 1,020 hours a year for Head Start center-based care and 1,380 for Early Head Start.
Federal taxpayers
Most of the child care guarantee is funded with "such sums as necessary," meaning no fixed price tag in the bill. The total cost would depend on how many families enroll.
HR4418 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jul 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Robert Scott
Democrat, Virginia's 3rd congressional district · 33 years in Congress
Committees: Education and Workforce, the Budget
View full profile →
Cosponsors (107)
All 107 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 35 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 32 more.
Summer Lee
Democrat · PA
Danny Davis
Democrat · IL
Julia Brownley
Democrat · CA
Paul Tonko
Democrat · NY
Cleo Fields
Democrat · LA
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Rashida Tlaib
Democrat · MI
Delia Ramirez
Democrat · IL
Nancy Pelosi
Democrat · CA
Bennie Thompson
Democrat · MS
Jonathan Jackson
Democrat · IL
Melanie Stansbury
Democrat · NM
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
10 of 37 committee members cosponsored
6 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4418 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Families
- Introduced
- Jul 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Jul 15, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with status, full text, cosponsors, and actions for the Child Care for Working Families Act.
The existing federal child care subsidy program for low-income working families, which the bill would expand into a guarantee for every eligible child under 6.
Effective July 13, 2026, this rule repealed the federal requirement to cap CCDF co-payments at 7% of income; the bill would write that 7% ceiling into law.
The HHS office that runs Head Start and Early Head Start, which the bill funds with $2.7 billion a year for wages and new extended-duration grants.
The U.S. Code section the bill incorporates for its core child care definitions.
H.R. 4418 Common Questions
How much would child care cost under H.R. 4418?
It depends on your income relative to your state's median. At or below 85% of median, you pay nothing. Above that, copays are capped at 2%, 4%, or 7% of income, and 7% is the most any eligible family pays.
Is there an income limit for H.R. 4418 child care help?
No. Families earning more than 150% of their state's median income still qualify. They pay a flat 7% of income toward care for all eligible children.
Who qualifies for child care under H.R. 4418?
Children under 6 who haven't started kindergarten, if a parent is working, looking for work, in school or training, in treatment, dealing with family violence, or on qualifying family or medical leave.
When would the child care guarantee start?
October 1, 2026. By that date, states would have to serve every eligible child from a family at or below 85% of state median income. The bill has not moved out of committee, so that date would likely shift if it advances.
Can a daycare charge more than the copay?
Not if it takes funding under the bill. Once a state sets payment rates based on the real cost of care, providers can't charge families above their capped copay.
Does H.R. 4418 create free preschool?
Yes, for 3- and 4-year-olds. It provides $9 billion a year in early education grants from 2026 through 2031. The federal government covers 90% of preschool costs at first, falling to 60% by 2031.
Would child care workers get a raise?
Yes. Provider payment rates must cover at least a living wage and match elementary teachers with similar credentials in the state. Head Start also gets $2.7 billion a year for wages.
Can a preschool expel a child under this bill?
No. Funded providers are barred from using suspension, expulsion, or aversive behavioral interventions.
Based on H.R. 4418 bill text
H.R. 4418 Bill Text
“To increase the quality and supply of child care and lower child care costs for families.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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