Childcare Cost Relief Act of 2026

The Childcare Cost Relief Act of 2026 amends existing law to provide additional federal funding to states and territories with disproportionately high child care costs relative to their median incomes. This extra money is distributed only in years when the total budget for the Child Care and Development Block Grant increases, excluding any supplemental appropriations. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must annually identify which jurisdictions qualify as "affected" by evaluating local cost data and workforce capacity. Each year, the Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress detailing the median child care costs, workforce assessments, and the specific list of states receiving these additional funds.