U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten and John James announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation designed to create a cost-sharing pilot program that would significantly reduce childcare expenses for working families nationwide.
The proposed Tri-Share Child Care program represents a collaborative approach to tackling what both lawmakers describe as a national childcare affordability crisis.
Cutting the Costs of Childcare
Under the proposed framework, childcare costs would be divided equally among three parties: the federal government, employers, and parents themselves. This structure means participating families would be responsible for paying only one-third of their childcare costs, with the government and their employer each covering an additional third.
Families earning up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level and whose employers participate in the program would be eligible to benefit from the initiative, according to MLive.
The legislation would allocate $250 million annually for three years to support the pilot program across multiple states. Scholten, who drew on personal experience as a working mother with two children in daycare, emphasized the urgency of addressing what she called the "crushing costs of childcare" affecting American families.
She stated that the program aims to reduce financial pressure on working parents and strengthen the broader economy by helping families pursue their careers.
The Tri-Share model builds on a successful pilot program that has been operating in Michigan. Results from the state initiative demonstrated that 82 percent of participating families were able to maintain their workforce participation, while four out of five participating businesses reported using the program as a recruiting and retention tool, Fox17 reported. Additionally, more than half of childcare providers serving program participants reported improved financial stability.
A New Bipartisan Program
James highlighted that Michigan families currently face annual childcare costs exceeding $12,000, making affordable childcare access a critical issue for the state's workforce and economy. Both representatives characterized the legislation as a necessary step to help families manage expenses while boosting workforce engagement and economic growth.
Support for the initiative extends beyond the sponsoring representatives. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, which played a leading role in developing Michigan's Tri-Share program, has endorsed the effort to expand the model nationally. Chamber officials called it a meaningful step forward, noting that the program demonstrates what is possible when business, government, and community collaborate to address pressing family needs.
Early childhood advocates have similarly praised the initiative as an innovative solution that prioritizes children's development while easing financial burdens on families and supporting employers who invest in their workforce, as per the Michigan Independent.
