Linda Sánchez and Mike Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Tax Relief Bill for Working Families

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair, Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Mike Kelly – members of the House Ways and Means Committee – today introduced the Working Families Relief Act (H.R. 2618) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation would increase the maximum amount that employees can set aside or employers can provide to the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), a flexible spending account which can be used to pay for childcare on a pre-tax basis. H.R. 2618 would raise the cap from $5,000 to $10,500 and index it for inflation. It would also provide tax credits to employers who match the DCAP contributions in order to encourage them to offer this benefit.

Statement by Rep. Sánchez (D-CA):

"As a working mom myself, I understand that every working parent wants to be able to do it all. However, we often have to make sacrifices in both our personal lives and our careers just to keep up. I know that even a little help can make a world of difference for a hard working family. The Working Families Relief Act seeks to make childcare a little more affordable for working families. I look forward to working with my friend Rep. Mike Kelly to pass this important legislation on behalf of hardworking Americans."

Statement by Rep. Kelly (R-PA):

"Early education and a child's healthy development go hand in hand. Giving kids the right foundation at a young age means giving them a fair opportunity to succeed in life. Unfortunately, far too many working families struggle to cover costs for quality care. This bipartisan bill will help parents overcome that difficulty by expanding and modernizing DCAP accounts, which currently help more than 1.3 million families pay for early learning programs and childcare every year. As Congress works closer toward achieving pro-growth tax reform to rebuild our economy, this bill is about making sure our tax code is firmly on the side of our nation's most precious asset – our children – and the hardworking parents who love and support them."

Statement by Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network:

"Many parents know that without high-quality learning programs, their children could fall behind and never catch up. Families want to provide their children with this kind of quality care; however, for many it's simply unaffordable. Expanding the Dependent Care Assistance Program so more working families can participate will make child care costs more affordable and help parents ensure their children have a strong start in life. I want to thank Representatives Mike Kelly and Linda Sanchez for leading on the Working Families Relief Act in the House."