•     "Under present law, if a state is found to repeatedly misuse funds leading to improper payments to child care providers, the HHS Secretary has the discretion to withhold child care dollars from the state. This bill would tie the hands of the [HHS] Secretary, forcing states to be disqualified from child care assistance for simple mistakes, such as paperwork errors. As I previously stated, addressing fraud should be a bipartisan matter. But unfortunately, while my colleagues may suggest this bill would make a small technical change to the Secretary’s duties, I cannot support thoughtlessly restricting access to a program that families depend on for reliable child care based on small inadvertent errors. For those reasons, I oppose this bill." Source: Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democrat, Virginia, District 3) 

•     "In Colorado, where a majority of residents already live in child care deserts, funding interruptions compound existing shortages and inequities. Losing child care assistance funding would affect tens of thousands of families, particularly those in communities with few or no alternative care options. For many, the loss of care is not temporary—it can permanently alter employment trajectories, income stability, and long-term economic security." Source: Liz Denson, President & CEO, Early Connections Learning Centers, Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Hearing: "Restoring Integrity: Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs."