Washington, D.C. - The House continued to advance towards passage of the Build Back Better Act, as negotiations continued on Tuesday. 

The legislative text, first introduced last week, includes a provision fought for by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) to ensure more San Diego families have access to the Build Back Better Act’s child care benefits. 

Congresswoman Jacobs releases the following statement: 

“House Democrats are eager and ready to pass the Build Back Better Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. We are moving forward with the final stages of negotiations and putting together the final parts of the legislative text. 

“I am especially proud to have successfully secured a significant provision in the bill that will guarantee that the majority of families will be able to benefit from the child care subsidies that form such a key part of the bill. Thanks to my provision, families earning up to 250% of the State Median Income will spend no more than 7% of their income on child care - a direct provision I pushed for with Congressional leadership and the White House. This is a big win for families in San Diego and across the country.”

On October 25, Congresswoman Jacobs wrote to both White House officials and Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer, calling for expanding eligibility for child care subsidies to a higher income threshold — at least 250% of the State Median Income — to reflect the needs of people in high-cost districts like San Diego. As negotiations began in September, Congresswoman Jacobs also urged Congressman Bobby Scott, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor to expand the size of the child care subsidy program. Because of her advocacy, the child care provision will support millions more middle-class families who have struggled to afford child care that meets their needs.

The Build Back Better Act includes free and universal pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, significant measures to reduce child care costs, and a one-year extension of the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit. It also includes expanded health care coverage and the largest effort to combat climate change in U.S. history. These provisions are paid for with increased taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans. 

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