Build Back Better Update

The $1.75 trillion social spending package containing much of the Biden Administration’s economic agenda, also known as the Build Back Better (BBB) Act (H.R. 5376), could be voted on in the House of Representatives this week (November 15-19). 

If BBB passes the House in the upcoming days, the economic package still faces significant hurdles before it becomes law. The Senate is expected to modify the legislation, with hundreds of amendments anticipated. If the amended legislation passes the Senate, the House is required to vote again on the revised bill before it goes to President Biden’s desk for approval. No timetable has been announced for the Senate’s consideration of BBB, but it is expected that the chamber won’t act until December at the earliest.

The version of BBB now under consideration in the House was released on Wednesday, November 3. It includes funding for universal Pre-K and the establishment of a new early learning entitlement program for children five and under. A section-by-section summary of the child care and Pre-K provisions is available here.

Highlights of BBB provisions related to early care and education include:

• State participation in one or both of Pre-K expansion and the new child care entitlement program is optional.
• States that opt to participate in the “Birth Through Five Child Care and Early Learning Entitlement Program” would be required to use 50% of allotted funds on expanding access to child care subsidies; 25% of funds on child care supply and quality building activities; and 25% of funds on either subsidy and grant expansion or supply and quality building, and up to 7% on the cost of administration.
• With respect to child care facilities: 
  • Unfortunately, the House Ways and Means child care infrastructure stand-alone investment of $15 billion was not included in the legislation, but facilities grants are an option within the quality set-aside of the child care entitlement program;
  • CDFIs are among the entities explicitly mentioned in the legislative text as eligible to administer state child care quality resources;
  • Construction is only permitted from FY22-24, with an option for Secretary approval in future years;
  • Outside of the “transitional” program years of FY22-FY24, states must abide by the current CCDBG statute when allocating facilities grants, which means that states cannot use grant resources to make structural changes to facilities;
  • The acquisition and purchase of land or facilities are not expressly allowed and may be interpreted as being expressly prohibited in all years;
  • Legislative language bars sectarian places of worship from receiving facilities grants for construction / structural renovations.

#BuildBackBetterNOW 

Join Parent Voices members and partners on Twitter this week to demand #BuildBackBetterNOW! This equity bill is a historic chance at transformational funding for child care, paid leave, home care, and fair wages. 

Click here for the #BuildBackBetterNOW Twitter storm toolkit!