Child Care Workforce Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1826
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-01T08:08:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Child Care Workforce Act aims to create a pilot program that boosts the availability of high-quality child care by providing federal funding to states, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations. This funding would support wage supplements for child care workers to help attract and keep qualified staff, enhance worker well-being, improve care quality, and make affordable child care more accessible.
Key Provisions
- Pilot Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award competitive grants to eligible states, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations to supplement wages for child care workers. Grants are selected based on factors like the number of young children, existing child care workers, average wages, unmet subsidy needs, and overall demand for more workers.
- Eligibility and Application Requirements: Applicants must submit plans showing a need for more workers and higher wages, criteria for selecting low-wage workers, prioritization of high-need areas (e.g., underserved regions, programs for low-income families, infants/toddlers, children with disabilities, or nontraditional hours), methods for timely wage payments (direct, via employers, or intermediaries), public awareness efforts, impact measurement, integration with broader compensation plans, strategies to avoid instability post-funding, and other details as required by HHS.
- Use of Funds: Grants must primarily supplement wages for eligible workers (defined as those providing direct care/education in licensed or regulated home- or center-based settings). Supplements are disbursed at least quarterly, targeted to priority areas, and voluntary. Recipients must educate workers on potential tax or benefit impacts. Up to 10% of funds can cover administrative costs, financial counseling, and awareness campaigns.
- Evaluation and Reporting: HHS will evaluate the program's success in attracting/retaining workers, improving well-being and care quality, and expanding affordable services. A report to Congress is due within two years of implementation.
- Funding and Timeline: Authorizes necessary appropriations starting in fiscal year 2025. The Act takes effect 75 days after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal pilot program under HHS authority, without directly amending prior laws like the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (which it references for definitions and subsidies). It adds a targeted wage supplement mechanism to address child care workforce shortages, building on but not altering existing subsidy or block grant structures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS will gain responsibilities for grant administration, selection, evaluation, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workload and federal spending on child care.
- Citizens: Child care workers may see improved wages and retention, leading to better job stability and well-being. Families, especially low-income ones, could benefit from more available, higher-quality, and affordable child care options, reducing barriers to employment. However, short-term program limits might cause temporary instability in some areas post-funding.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. child care systems, including territories and Tribal lands.
Main Stakeholders
- Child Care Workers: Primary beneficiaries through wage supplements, targeting low-wage staff in licensed programs.
- States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal Organizations: Recipients of grants, responsible for implementation, prioritization, and planning.
- Families and Children: Indirectly affected via improved access to quality care, particularly in underserved or high-need areas.
- HHS and Congress: Oversees the program and evaluates outcomes, with Congress receiving reports to inform future policy.
- Child Care Providers: Employers or intermediaries who may distribute funds and benefit from stabilized staffing.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on federal spending authority to distribute grants, with requirements for compliance with state/Tribal licensing and integration with existing subsidy programs. Emphasizes voluntary participation and timely payments to minimize disputes.
- Constitutional: Invokes Congress's power to spend for the general welfare (Article I, Section 8), supporting child care as a public good without infringing on state sovereignty, as participation is competitive and optional.
- Political: Addresses bipartisan concerns over child care shortages and workforce challenges, potentially influencing future appropriations or expansions. The pilot nature allows testing before broader implementation, but reliance on annual funding could lead to debates over sustainability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Child Care Workforce Act — issued 2025-03-04 — PDF (8 pages)