Child Care Infrastructure Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3274
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-20T08:07:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Child Care Infrastructure Act aims to enhance the safety, capacity, and accessibility of child care facilities across the United States by providing federal grants for infrastructure improvements. It addresses immediate and long-term needs, particularly those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as reduced capacity and outdated facilities, to support child care providers serving vulnerable populations.
Key Provisions
- Needs Assessments:
- An immediate assessment of child care facilities' conditions, prioritizing federally funded programs, including impacts from COVID-19 on capacity, costs, tuition, and enrollment demographics. This must occur alongside the first grant cycle, with a report to Congress within one year.
- A long-term assessment using sampling methods, with a report to Congress within four years. Both reports will be publicly available.
- Grants to States:
- Funds up to $250 million annually per state for acquiring, constructing, renovating, or improving child care facilities (e.g., adapting for safety or expanding space). Grants last up to five years.
- Priorities include facilities serving low-income families, children under 5 (especially infants and toddlers), those in rural or underserved areas, operating nontraditional hours, or needing to rebuild capacity post-COVID.
- States must submit applications with detailed plans, including impact reporting. Selection favors states with collaborative plans involving local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations.
- A 10% matching requirement (cash or in-kind, including federal or private funds). States must report outcomes one year after the grant period.
- Grants to Intermediary Organizations:
- Up to $15 million per grant to organizations like community development financial institutions (CDFIs, which are nonprofits that provide financial services to underserved communities) or tribal groups for technical assistance, capacity-building, and financing tools (e.g., loans or credit enhancements).
- Priorities include experience in child care financing, focus on diverse needs (urban/rural, nontraditional hours, low-income populations), and leveraging funds for broader impact.
- Labor Standards:
- All construction, renovation, or expansion work funded by grants must pay workers prevailing wages under the Davis-Bacon Act (a federal law requiring fair wages on public works projects). Applicants must assure compliance, enforced by the Secretary of Labor.
- Funding and Reservations:
- Authorizes $10 billion for fiscal year 2026, available through 2030.
- Reserves 3% for Indian tribes and 3% for territories (e.g., Puerto Rico, Guam).
- 10-15% for intermediary grants; up to $5 million for assessments.
- A final report on grant effects due by fiscal year 2030.
- Definitions and Exemptions:
- "State" includes the 50 states, District of Columbia, territories, and Indian tribes.
- Exempts territory grants from federal caps on total payments to territories.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act (which covers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) by adding a new Section 418A, introducing dedicated infrastructure grants for child care—a novel federal program focused on physical improvements.
- Modifies Section 1108 to exempt these grants from limits on federal payments to territories, allowing fuller funding access without reducing other aid.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will oversee assessments, grant awards, and reporting, increasing administrative workload but providing data to inform future policy. The Department of Labor gains enforcement roles for wage standards.
- Citizens: Families, especially low-income and rural ones, may gain better access to safe, affordable child care, potentially boosting workforce participation (e.g., parents returning to jobs) and child development. Providers could expand services, reducing waitlists and improving quality.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is domestic-focused.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Child Care Providers: Centers (home-based and center-based) and early education programs like Head Start, benefiting from facility upgrades.
- States and Local Governments: Responsible for applying for and managing grants, with incentives for collaboration.
- Vulnerable Populations: Low-income families, infants/toddlers, children with disabilities, and those in rural/underserved areas, who gain prioritized access.
- Indian Tribes and Territories: Receive reserved funds to address unique infrastructure needs.
- Intermediary Organizations: CDFIs, nonprofits, and community groups, empowered to finance and support projects.
- Workers: Construction laborers protected by wage standards, ensuring fair pay on funded projects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enforces existing labor laws (Davis-Bacon Act) on new grants, promoting worker protections but adding compliance burdens. The bill's structure integrates with welfare programs under the Social Security Act, potentially streamlining federal child care support without creating a standalone entitlement.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to promote general welfare, including child welfare and economic support. No apparent First Amendment or federalism issues, though states' matching requirements encourage local investment.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan push for child care investment (introduced by Democrats but addressing broad needs), potentially reducing child care deserts and supporting economic recovery post-COVID. It could spark debates on federal spending priorities amid budget constraints, with equity focus (e.g., for low-income and rural areas) highlighting social justice themes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-05-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Child Care Infrastructure Act — issued 2025-05-08 — PDF (15 pages)