Childcare is expensive, and proposed policy solutions too often involve increased government spending without addressing the underlying costs. Alex J. Adams, assistant secretary for family support at the US Department of Health and Human Services, will discuss the current state of childcare policy and his efforts to expand childcare choices for families. Previously, as Idaho’s director of health and welfare, Adams led a comprehensive regulatory review that helped make Idaho a national model for childcare freedom. Economist Anna Claire Flowers, coauthor of the State Childcare Regulations Index, will discuss research on how reducing regulatory burdens can expand childcare options and lower costs for families.