Friday, September 12, 2014, House and Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. Negotiated by Representatives John Kline (R-MN), George Miller (D-CA), Todd Rokita (R-IN), and David Loebsack (D-IA), and Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Richard Burr (R-NC), the agreement will enhance transparency, strengthen health and safety protections, and improve the quality of care.
After the original bill was introduced in the Senate on June 3, 2013, the Senate voted to pass S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) of 2014 on March 13th, 2014 by a vote of 96-2 and the House passed the amended version of the bill on September 15, 2014.
Timeline of S.1086 in Congress:
June 3, 2013: Senator Mikulski (D-MD), Senator Burr (R-NC), Senator Harkin (D-IA), and Senator Alexander (R- TN) Introduce S.1086, a bill to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant.
September 18, 2013: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee passes S.1086 out of committee by unanimous consent via voice vote.
March 12, 2014: The Senate begins debate on S.1086.
March 13, 2014: After adopting multiple amendments, Senate passes S.1086 by a vote of 96-2.
September 12, 2014: Representatives John Kline (R-MN), George Miller (D-CA), Todd Rokita (R-IN), and David Loebsack (D-IA), and Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Richard Burr (R-NC) announce bi-partisan, bicameral agreement to reauthorize CCDBG.
September 15, 2014: House of Representatives pass amended version of S.1086 by a voice vote
On Tuesday, the morning after House passage, the Senate leadership “hotlined” the bill, meaning that every Senator received a call and was required to notify leadership if they objected. Senator Pat Toomey from PA placed a “hold” on the bill, stopping it’s progress unless the hold was removed. Toomey was fighting for passage of his own K12 background check bill and due to the manner that the hotline works, held significant leverage in this situation.
For more information on what went on in the the Senate this past week with CCDBG, click below:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2014/09/child_care_and_development_blo.html
Through the end of yesterday’s session, Sen. Toomey (R-PA) continued his hold on CCDBG. Since it was clear that S.1086 as amended would not be passing through unanimous consent, Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) placed S.1086 at the top of the list of pending business to be continued by the Senate when it returns from recess (Monday, Nov. 10th). Reid scheduled a cloture vote on S.1086 that will allow the Senate to proceed for a vote on the House passed version, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 13th after the midterm elections in November.
To read through Thursday night's legislative proceedings, check out the Senate Legislative Calendar Digest here:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/floor_activity/09_18_2014_Senate_Floor.htm
For more information on the Child Care and Development Block Grant and reauthorization, click below:
http://usa.childcareaware.org/public-policy/core-issues/ccdbg-reauthorization
From now through November 13th, stay tuned to Child Care Aware of America's Public Policy Department as we continue our calls to action and provide updates around the latest happenings with CCDBG Reauthorization.
