In November 2014, President Obama signed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 into law--the first reauthorization of the federal child care program since 1996. Passed with strong bipartisan support, the law aims to protect the health and safety of children in child care, facilitate families' access to child care assistance, and improve the quality of care. However, the reauthorization does not meaningfully increase funding for CCDBG above FY 2014 levels ($2.36 billion). Specifically, it authorizes $2.36 billion for FY 2015, $2.48 billion for FY 2016, $2.54 billion for FY 2017, $2.60 billion for FY 2018, $2.67 billion for FY 2019, and $2.75 billion for FY 2020. (At least 2 percent of the total CCDBG appropriation is to be reserved for Indian tribes and tribal organizations.) The chart below compares the prior version of the law governing the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) with provisions of the reauthorization law that make changes in the following areas: CCDBG Purposes And General Administration - Consumer Education and Provider Compliance with Health and Safety Standards (including criminal background checks) - Child Care Program Standards and Quality Improvement Activities - Family-Friendly Policies - Payment Rates and Practices (author abstract)