Earlier today, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a FY 2019 spending package by a 30-1 vote that proposes funding levels for child care and other early childhood programs for next year. The bill includes $5.3 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which is the same level the House Appropriations Committee proposed earlier this month, and honors the two-year congressional budget deal. The legislation urges states to use the funding to assist in compliance with the 2014 law and expand access to quality, affordable care.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education approved its FY 2019 appropriations bill that includes proposed funding levels for child care and other early childhood programs. The Subcommittee includes $5.2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which is the same level as FY 2018.  While this is good news, and upholds the two-year congressional budget agreement from earlier this year, far more is needed in order to meet the child care need in the United States.

Earlier today, the House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed tax reform legislation which will overhaul the tax code for the first time since the mid-1980s. President Trump is expected to sign this bill into law soon.

Earlier today, the House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 1, the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" on a party-line vote. While proposals to expand and enhance the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) were not included in the amended version, the proposal to eliminate Dependent Care Flexible Savings Accounts was overturned. The House is scheduled to vote on H.R. 1 sometime next week.

Yesterday, House Republican leadership introduced the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017."  This anticipated legislation is designed to reform the tax code for the first time since the 1980s, including changes to deductions and tax credits.

The Senate just passed its FY 2018 budget resolution on a 51-49 vote. Before final passage, the Senate adopted an amendment from Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Budget Committee, that removes the House-passed Budget resolution's instructions of $203 billion in mandatory spending cuts and replaces it with a deficit-neutral tax cut that could add $1.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. This funding set-aside is protected from a filibuster.