Child Care for Working Families Act

Creates a federal, entitlement-style child care and early learning system for children from birth through age five and a separate universal preschool program, backed by multi-year federal funding and new grant programs to expand supply and quality. It requires states, territories, and Tribes to offer child care assistance to every eligible child who applies starting October 1, 2026; funds workforce pay and provider supports through a new competitive grant (BASE Grants); expands Head Start for longer days/years; and sets quality, reporting, and administration rules for participating jurisdictions.

The legislation specifies how states apply and run programs (payment rates, family copays, licensing, low-barrier enrollment), sets aside funds for quality and supply activities, requires data reporting with privacy protections, and authorizes multi‑billion dollar appropriations for FY2026–FY2031 to cover entitlement payments, BASE Grants, federal administration, and Head Start extended-duration grants.