{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-moore-introduces-respecting-parents-childcare-choices-act", "Congressman Moore Introduces Respecting Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act", "2025-03-24", "2025", "2025-03", "Republican", "House", "WV", "Riley M. Moore", "M001235", "rileymoore.house.gov", "rileymoore", "https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore introduced the Respecting Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act. This pro-family legislation significantly increases annual authorized funding levels for the Child Care Development Block Grant, which states disburse via vouchers to working-class families to help finance childcare. The bill also empowers families to choose the childcare option that works best for them, which can include paying a parent directly if they stay home and by eliminating burdensome regulations tied to paying a relative for childcare. Finally, the bill eliminates marriage penalties and codifies existing policy protections for faith-based childcare providers.\n\nCongressmen Clay Higgins of Louisiana and Brandon Gill of Texas joined Rep. Moore in co-sponsoring the bill. Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Jim Banks of Indiana.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by Heritage Action for America, American Principles Project, American Compass, Independent Women\u2019s Forum, CatholicVote, Family Policy Alliance, Students for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, March for Life Action, the Bull Moose Project, and Family Research Council.\n\nCongressman Moore issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cFor decades, conservatives have rallied around being pro-life, but far too often, the policy framework that came with it lacked strong, substantive ideas to reduce the burden on American families. Being pro-life means being pro-family, and with this legislation, we\u2019re empowering families to choose what works best for them.\n\n\u201cThis is just the first step I aim to take in ushering in a new era that makes raising a family great again.\u201d\n\nHere\u2019s what others are saying:\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s burdensome overregulation increased the cost of childcare and withheld funding from the childcare arrangements many families prefer,\u201d said Senator Jim Banks of Indiana. \u201cBig government never works. The Respect Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act puts families first and gives parents the freedom to choose what works best for them.\u201d\n\n\"Parents know what is best for their children. When it comes to childcare, parents shouldn\u2019t be penalized for wanting to choose a provider who aligns with their religious views, or for having a family member willing to step in to help out,\u201d said Terry Schilling, President of American Principles Project. \"Expanding the qualifying childcare providers to include these resources is a wonderful step in putting hardworking families first in America. APP is grateful to Senator Banks and Congressman Moore for taking the lead.\"\n\n\u201cParents across America need childcare that is accessible, affordable, and trustworthy,\u201d said Janae Stracke, Vice President for Outreach and Advocacy at Heritage Action. \u201cThe Respecting Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act is a monumental bill that empowers parents with the freedom and flexibility to raise their children how they see fit, without facing penalties that complicate childcare coordination. Heritage Action commends Rep. Moore for putting families first and addressing this important need.\u201d\n\n\"Households need greater access to affordable, high-quality childcare options, and the Respecting Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act would help to achieve this,\u201d said Carrie Lukas, President of the Independent Women\u2019s Forum. \u201cMoreover, this bill recognizes that childcare is a very personal choice, and families have different preferences for care. Thank you, Senator Banks and Congressman Moore, for your leadership on this issue.\"\n\n\"The majority of Americans want the federal government to assist working families,\" said Oren Cass, Chief Economist for American Compass. \"However, they also want assistance to respect their preferences, which vary widely but most often include the flexibility to have a parent or relative provide care at home. This important legislation would provide families the flexibility they need to make the best decisions for their childcare.\"\n\n\"The first line in the care and education of children is always the parents. Moms and Dads know what is better for their sons and daughters more than bureaucrats,\u201d said Joshua Mercer, Vice President of CatholicVote. \u201cSen. Banks and Rep. Moore deserve praise for putting the rights of parents above a liberal big government agenda.\"\n\n\"The Bull Moose Project has consistently advocated for policies that empower rather than restrict American families, which is why we strongly support the Respect Parents' Childcare Choices Act. The reforms proposed in this legislation are necessary to give flexibility for families with childcare and encourage family development, which is why the bill delivers a rare combination in Washington: a policy that's both more effective and more respectful of family autonomy.\" \u2013 Aiden Buzzetti, President of the Bull Moose Project. \u201c\n\n\u201cFor far too long, government policies have pushed both parents into the workforce by failing to acknowledge or account for stay-at-home parents. Many moms, and some dads, would prefer the flexibility to stay home or work from home in order to care for their children. The Respect Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act gives families that flexibility by removing penalties when parents choose to become caretakers and by allowing low-income families to use state block grants to compensate a parent or family member who provides in-home care. It also ensures that parents that marry will not immediately lose the support for which they would have otherwise been eligible, thereby encouraging family formation. Representative Riley Moore is to be commended for this outstanding bill in support of America's families.\u201d - Quena Gozalez, Senior Director of Government Relations, Family Research Council\n\n\"To equip young families as they do the vital work of raising the people \u2013 the next generation -- whom we will all depend on, Students for Life Action supports the Respecting Parents\u2019 Childcare Choices Act. This measure helps empower families to make choices about who is best to care for their children, without forcing government daycare. The people most devoted to their children should have the freedom to decide who will best protect and love them, while parents are at work. Students for Life Action thanks Rep. Moore for his leadership on this bill.\" \u2013 Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America & Students for Life Action.\n\nThe Daily Wire first covered the bill\u2019s introduction, read about it here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://rileymoore.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-moore-introduces-respecting-parents-childcare-choices-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9364360012114048, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}