Rep. Scholten to announce bipartisan legislation aiming to cut the cost of childcare

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten will soon introduce new legislation aimed at "slashing" the cost of childcare, she announced Sunday.

Scholten said the bill would expand on Tri-Share programs in states like Michigan by establishing similar opportunities for child care cost-sharing and provide additional funding for states that already have such programs.

"Child care is unaffordable across the country. Since 1990, child care expenses have more than tripled, and in 38 states and Washington, D.C., child care costs more than public college tuition," wrote Scholten in a press release.

"Parents pay a median of $800 a month, or a median of up to $1,100 for parents who need 20 hours or more of care a week. These astronomical costs harm working families; child care expe