Access to affordable and reliable child care constitutes a significant social challenge for families throughout the United States. Many parents strive to work, pursue education, or enhance their employment prospects, but are often hindered by the high cost or limited availability of child care in their communities. Child care is not solely a personal responsibility; it is fundamental to the nation’s workforce participation, economic stability, and

overall quality of life. When affordable care is unavailable, families may be forced to reduce work hours, leave the workforce, rely on unsafe or inconsistent arrangements, or make difficult decisions between child care and other essential needs. The communities most affected by this issue include low- and middle-income families, single-parent households, working parents, parents who are pursuing education or job training, and families living in communities with limited child care providers. Families in rural areas can face additional challenges because there may be fewer child care providers available and longer distances to travel for care. Families with children who have disabilities may also face additional barriers because they may require providers with specialized training, additional staff, or other accommodations. In Texas, child care assistance is intended to help eligible

low-income families and parents who are working, attending school, or participating in training. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (2024), families spend between 8.9% and 16% of their median income on full-day child care for a single child, with annual costs ranging from $6,552 to $15,600 based on 2022 data. These expenses are especially burdensome for single-parent households and low- to middle-income families. Additionally, Child Care Aware3 of America (2025) reports that the national average cost of child care in 2024 was approximately $13,128 per year. This amount exceeds what many families can reasonably afford while also covering essential expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and health care.

This petition urges federal and state policymakers to increase funding and support for affordable and accessible child care. At the federal level, key decision-makers include members of the U.S. Congress, particularly members of the House and Senate committees responsible for appropriations and funding for health and human services, as well as the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), which administers federal child care funding through programs such as the Child Care and Development Fund. At the state level, Texas legislators and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) are important decision-makers because TWC administers child care assistance and distributes funding to local Workforce Development Boards. TWC's three-member Commission also makes decisions regarding statewide child care funding and initiatives.

Our strategy focuses on advocating for increased government investment in child care assistance programs, expanded subsidies, and policies that improve the affordability of quality child care for working families. We also support additional funding for child care providers to help them remain operational, employ qualified staff, and deliver safe, high-quality care without transferring the full financial responsibility to parents. In Texas, TWC currently allocates funding for child care services and quality improvement activities, demonstrating that state funding decisions can directly affect the availability and quality of child care services.4

A central policy objective is to ensure that families do not spend an excessive share of their income on child care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets 7% of household income as an affordability benchmark for families receiving federal assistance.

However, actual costs often exceed this standard. Data from the Department of Labor’s

National Database of Childcare Prices show that child care remains unaffordable in many communities, even for families earning the median household income (U.S. Department of Labor, 2024).

From a social justice perspective, affordable child care is closely connected to equality, economic stability, and opportunity. Families with limited financial resources are disproportionately impacted by high child care costs. The Department of Labor (2023) found that higher child care expenses are associated with reduced maternal employment,demonstrating that this issue affects both individual families and the broader workforce and economy. Child care yields benefits for children, parents, employers, and communities.

Children benefit from safe, nurturing environments that foster development, while parents are better positioned to sustain employment and financial stability. Child Care Aware of America (2025) highlights that the current child care system remains inaccessible for many families due to high costs and limited availability. State policymakers also have an important role beyond funding assistance. The Texas

Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), through its Child Care Regulation program, is responsible for regulating child care operations, including inspections and investigations related to health and safety standards. This means that Texas policymakers have influence overboth the affordability of child care and the standards providers must meet. The Texas5

Workforce Commission and local Workforce Development Boards also play an important role in determining how child care assistance is provided to eligible families.

We urge members of the public to sign this petition and advocate for policies that recognize affordable child care as a necessity, not a privilege. By raising awareness of this issue, we seek to motivate federal and Texas decision-makers to increase funding, expand access to child care assistance, support child care providers, and establish a child care system that better serves working families and children