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Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act

September 19, 2023

Bill to Provide Sufficient and Equitable CACFP Reimbursement

Today, September 19, the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act (H.R.5569) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to permanently: 

  • Provide an additional 10 cent reimbursement for each meal and snack served in the CACFP
  • Eliminate the tiering of family day care homes
  • Allow family day care home providers to claim their own children’s meals for reimbursement

Why it Matters

The Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (KKFA) temporarily allowed for a 10-cent increase in reimbursement and for tier II family day care homes to receive tier I reimbursement rates. These temporary provisions were vital for CACFP providers across the nation. However, on June 30, 2023, the KKFA expired. As a result, the 2023-2024 reimbursement rates released by USDA show a decrease in reimbursement rates for many providers. Tier II family day care homes have been impacted the most, with a 52% decrease in reimbursement (see % change in reimbursement chart below).

In order to ensure that providers are able to continue to operate the CACFP and do not drop off of the program, increased reimbursement is needed. Eliminating the tiering system will also keep family day care home providers from having their reimbursement cut in half and remove a significant barrier to family day care homes joining the program.

NCA and Partners Endorse the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act

NCA is proud to join over 40 national organizations in endorsing this historic bill. Here's what our President and CEO, Lisa Mack, has to say:

"The National CACFP Sponsors Association applauds Congressman Greg Landsman and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for introducing this important legislation supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program community. The CACFP is critical for the infrastructure and nutrition security of child and adult care. Eliminating tiering and increasing reimbursement is needed to mitigate the challenges of the increased food and operational costs facing providers and will help combat food insecurity and support small business. Without these changes, providers will likely continue to drop out of the program, close their child care altogether or pass the meal burden on to parents."

Congressman Landsman recognized the importance of child care providers and the meals served through the CACFP:

“We are facing a child care crisis in this country, and we need commonsense leadership and solutions to address these challenges. Working with more than 40 national organizations that are dedicated to improving children’s lives and outcomes, we’re putting forward a responsible legislative solution that will invest real dollars that will help child care providers remain open, while improving the meals we serve to children every single day.”

Congresswoman Bonamici also recognized the struggles providers are facing with rising costs:

“Child care providers play an essential role in feeding millions of children healthy meals and snacks. Unfortunately, outdated policies and the rising cost of food are cutting into the funds child care providers need to stay open and offer quality care. The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act is a commonsense way to support child care providers as we face a national crisis in care and help more children access healthy foods.”

Congressional Co-Sponsors

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51)

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-2)

Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5)

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA-2)

Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22)

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8)

Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3)

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34)

Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10)

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large)

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10)

Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10)

Rep. Grace Meng (D-Ny-6)

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7)

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-9)

Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (D-HI-2)

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16)

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9)

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30)

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4)

Rep. Summer L. Lee (D-PA-12)

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25)

Rep. David J. Trone (D-MD-6)

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12)

Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11)

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12)

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4)

Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-9)

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20)

Rep. Donald Davis (D-NC-1)

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-7)

Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15)

Rep. Melanie Ann Stansbury (D-NM-1)

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42)

Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12)

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10)

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43)

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38)

Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT-At Large)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA-30)

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-28)

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11)

Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK-At Large)

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23)

Endorsing Organizations

Abriendo Puertas

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

All Our Kin

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

CACFP Roundtable

Caring Across Generations

Center for Law and Social Policy

Child Care Aware of America

Child Welfare League of America

Children’s Defense Fund

Coalition on Human Needs

Community Change Action

Council of Administrators of Special Education

Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC)

Early Care and Education Consortium 

Early Learning Ventures

Educare Learning Network

First Children’s Finance

First Focus Campaign for Children

Food Research and Action Center

Home Grown

IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)

KidKare by Minute Menu

KinderCare Learning Companies

National Association for Family Child Care 

National Association for the Education of Young Children 

National Association of Counties 

National Black Child Development Institute 

National CACFP Forum

National CACFP Sponsors Association 

National Child Care Association 

National Education Association

National Health Care for the Homeless Council 

National Women’s Law Center

Nurture

Opportunities Exchange 

ParentChild+

RESULTS

Save the Children 

School Nutrition Association 

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Start Early

ZERO TO THREE

Take Action! 

Act now! Urge your representatives to cosponsor the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act to ensure that CACFP operators can continue to provide nutritious meals and snacks to those in their care.