U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday announced new steps to lower the cost of childcare for American families with a proposal that would cap copayments under a block grant program that serves 1.5 million children and their families each month.

The proposed rule would limit working parents' copayments under the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program to no more than 7% of a family’s income.

The proposal, which will have a 45-day comment period, will encourage states to waive copayments for families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, the White House said in a fact sheet on the changes. A senior administration official said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hoped to publish the final rule in spring 2024.

Lowering childcare costs has been a big priority for the Biden administration, but a deeply divided Congress has thwarted adoption of some key proposals, including a push to make permanent an expanded child tax credit that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other measures aimed at aiding licensed and regulated childcare providers.

The proposal would also ensure that childcare providers participating in the program are paid on-time, based on program enrollment instead of attendance, the White House said.

It will also try to make it easier for families to access the block grant program, by encouraging states to accept online applications and making siblings of children who already receive the subsidy presumptively eligible for benefits.

HHS estimates the average family copayment for child care rose nearly 20% between 2005 and 2021, prompting many families to reduce their work hours or exit the workforce entirely.

Costs are also disproportionately high for families with low incomes, the White House said, citing a U.S. Census Bureau survey which found that families with low incomes paid five times more than families with higher incomes, as a portion of their income.

If enacted, the proposed changes would reduce copayments for some 80,000 families, the White House said.

A senior administration official said the rule would use existing resources to maximize benefits for families and child care providers.