Op-Ed: Senator Tillis Should Champion Child Care Tax Relief
By: Shaun Morgan, Servpro
As Congress hammers out the details of the Republican majority’s signature tax package, North Carolina families are watching closely. We’ve heard promises that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will deliver real relief to working families. With that goal in mind, Senator Thom Tillis has a clear opportunity be a leader as the Senate makes their changes by ensuring the expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is included in the final legislation.
Child care is one of the biggest expenses families face today, and for many, it’s unsustainable. In North Carolina, the typical annual cost of child care for an infant is around $12,000, which is more than the tuition at some in-state colleges. This isn’t just a family budgeting issue - it’s a workforce issue. Parents can’t work if they can’t afford care for their kids. As a small business owner, I see the impact up close as my employees navigate how to find accessible, affordable child care and maintain their careers. The current system is not sustainable. Policymakers in Washington, D.C. need to be advancing legislation to support families.
The CDCTC is the only federal tax credit specifically designed to offset these high costs. Currently, it’s outdated and no longer reflects the realities of modern family life. The credit maxes out at just $600 per child for many families—a fraction of what most parents actually spend on child care each year. An expansion could boost that relief to as much as $2,800 for families with two kids.
When the House passed its tax bill last month, they left this credit behind, leaving money on the table for working families struggling with the rising cost child care. However, it is not too late for the Senate to fix it—and Senator Tillis is in a unique position to lead that charge. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee and a co-sponsor of Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s legislation to expand the CDCTC, he can deliver for North Carolina families by ensuring the CDCTC is included in any final package.
Families in North Carolina have raised their voices to make it clear that they need relief as they work to juggle the rising costs of child care. They are eager to see pro-family changes that are smart, sensible, and will make a real difference in their lives. It is time to bring that momentum to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Expanding the CDCTC won’t just help parents—it will support our entire economy. It enables more people to stay in the workforce, increases productivity, and helps small businesses retain their employees. And unlike some flashy tax breaks, this one is laser-focused on people who need help: working families wanting affordable, accessible, safe child care for their children.
Senator Tillis has demonstrated his understanding of the importance of fairness and common sense in our tax code. He has a pro-family track record of fighting for hardworking households who have been left behind. Now, he has a chance to take those principles one step further by making sure the expanded CDCTC is part of the final tax package. North Carolina families are counting on it.
