Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) co-led the introduction on Wednesday, Feb. 28, of legislation described by his office as groundbreaking, to tackle the pressing issue of childcare affordability faced by families across the country. Officials from to the Bronx congressman’s office said the bipartisan measure, known as the Combatting High Inflation Limiting Daycare Act, or the “CHILD Act,” seeks to provide much-needed relief to American families struggling to meet the rising costs of childcare by doubling the annual contribution limit for tax-advantaged Dependent Care Flexible Savings Accounts (DCFSAs).

 

Officials from the congressman’s office said that for too long, families have been burdened by soaring childcare expenses, with the average cost consuming 10 percent of a couple’s income in 2021 alone. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, they said Torres partnered with Reps. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and John Moolenaar (MI-02) to find a bipartisan, common-sense solution.

 

“Ensuring families can afford quality childcare without breaking the bank is a moral and economic imperative,” Torres said. “In New York, the situation has become untenable for the vast majority of city residents and most of our friends and neighbors here in the Bronx. According to reporting from Business Insider last September, the average family in New York City spends over a quarter of their income on child care — per child.”

 

He added, “In the Bronx, the average monthly cost of child care for infants is $2,791. This is unacceptable. I am proud to join my colleagues today in introducing the CHILD Act. This bill represents a crucial step in supporting working parents and easing the financial burden on young families, and I urge all my colleagues in the House to join us in passing it.”

 

For her part, Bice said, “At its core, the CHILD Act will make a real difference in the lives of families across our nation. By addressing the outdated contribution limits for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, we can provide much-needed relief to working parents and ensure that they have the resources necessary to support their families.”

 

Key provisions of the CHILD Act include the following:

Increased Contribution Limit: Under the proposed legislation, the annual contribution limit for Dependent Care FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts) would be raised from $5,000 to $10,000 for joint filers and from $2,500 to $5,000 for separate filers. This significant increase will provide families with greater flexibility and financial assistance in covering childcare expenses, including after-school programs, daycare, and other dependent care services.

 

Annual Adjustment for Inflation: Unlike Health FSAs, the maximum contribution for Dependent Care FSAs has remained stagnant since 1986, with a maximum contribution limit of $5,000 per household. The CHILD Act also addresses this by instituting annual adjustments for inflation, ensuring that contribution limits keep pace with rising costs.

 

In New York City, as reported, the council voted to advance access to child care services in October 2022. The legislation followed an historic sweep of women elected city council members in 2021.

 

At state level, in 2022, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) had been accepting applications for childcare stabilization grants made available through federal funding relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Child Care Stabilization Grant 2.0 for Workforce Supports application period ran from July 5 to Nov. 30 that year.

Grant payments were made directly to the childcare provider. Eligible providers had to have been OCFS-licensed or registered childcare programs, NYC permitted group daycares, or enrolled, legally exempt, group childcare programs (enrolled with an enrollment agency). Learn more here.

 

Later, as reported, in the wake of the tragic death of one-year-old Nicholas Dominici, apparently due to a fentanyl overdose at El Niño Daycare Center on Morris Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights on Sept. 15, 2023, the infant’s father, Otoniel Feliz Samboy, made a public proposal during a press conference at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, to include funding in New York City’s budget to pay family members who don’t wish to leave their kids at a daycare in order to allow them (or grandparents) to care for the young children directly.

 

Norwood News readers later weighed in on this proposal with their thoughts. In the interim, as also reported, new laws have also been introduced as part of a joint initiative by District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez and State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) to protect children from opioid exposure.

 

Meanwhile, in terms of the newly proposed federal legislation on child care, Sánchez said that as a working mother, she understands the benefits high-quality childcare offers American families. “For many parents, childcare costs are a major financial burden that can derail their personal lives and careers,” the California representative said. “That’s why I appreciate Congresswoman Bice joining me to introduce legislation that would make childcare more affordable. Our bill, the CHILD Act, would help parents and caregivers focus on working to provide for their families.”

 

As reported, Torres, who represents a large section of the Bronx stretching from the northwest to the south, also recently called for more to be done to combat gun violence in the wake of the recent Mt. Eden subway shooting. Since then, as reported, three people from Bedford Park have been charged with murder following the killing of William AI Alvarez of Parkchester on Friday, Feb. 23, aboard the D train at 182nd-183rd Street subway station in Fordham Heights.