To help support America’s working families, U.S. Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) on Dec. 13 sponsored legislation to help them pay for child care and a range of other related expenses.
The Working Families Childcare Access (WFCA) Act of 2022, H.R. 9514, would permit parents to contribute to an employer-sponsored dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and roll over unused funds at the end of the year, according to a bill summary provided by the congresswoman’s staff.
If enacted, H.R. 9514 “would support parents in having access to affordable child care and also provide flexibility to use pretax dollars for a range of child care expenses including adoption, sports activities, art programs, and tutoring,” said Rep. Miller. “This legislation will deliver meaningful results that will strengthen not only our families and our communities, but also our economy.”
The bill was previously introduced by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN), who tragically died in a car crash on Aug. 3.
“I am honored to take on the bill that my dear friend and mentor, Jackie, introduced earlier last year,” Rep. Miller said on Monday. “This bipartisan bill is a reflection of Jackie’s leadership and will aid our working families to ensure they have the resources they need to raise their children.”
Specifically, the bill would increase the annual contribution limit to $15,000 instead of the current $5,000 limit; allow the rollover of saved unused FSA funds into the following year; allow parents to use their care FSA funds for adoption expenses, tutoring, sports, art, and music programs; and allow FSA funds to be used for children up to the age of 15 to ensure parents may save up for child care over a longer period of time, according to the bill summary.
The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.