After Hours Child Care Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7498
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The After Hours Child Care Act aims to improve access to child care for parents working nontraditional hours—such as evenings, nights, or weekends—by creating a targeted federal funding program. This helps these parents remain employed, pursue career advancement like promotions and raises, and build financial savings while addressing gaps in child care availability.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Child Care and Development Innovation Fund: Adds a new section (658U) to the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, creating a pilot grant program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Grant Awards:
- Competitive grants to eligible entities for up to 5 years (non-renewable), with amounts ranging from $25,000 to $500,000.
- Funds cover the federal share (75%) of costs; recipients must provide a 25% non-federal match.
- Grants start no later than 90 days after enactment, using up to 0.25% of annual appropriations under the Block Grant Act for fiscal years 2027–2031.
- Eligible Activities:
- Expanding or establishing child care programs (including family-based or onsite at workplaces) to serve families with parents on nontraditional schedules.
- Entering contracts with child care providers or intermediaries (e.g., resource organizations or networks).
- Planning efforts like needs assessments and outreach to existing providers.
- Specific uses include staffing, facility improvements, curriculum development, meeting health/safety standards, acquiring equipment, and training on infant safety (e.g., preventing sudden infant death syndrome).
- Eligibility and Application:
- Eligible entities: Licensed child care providers or partnerships involving providers and entities like state lead agencies, businesses, or community organizations.
- Applications must describe funded activities, measurable objectives (e.g., increasing child care slots or quality), baseline data, and the target population (families with nontraditional work hours).
- Definitions:
- Nontraditional work hours: Schedules where at least 25% of hours fall before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on weekdays, on weekends, or with short notice (less than 7 days).
- Child care program: Services provided by eligible, licensed providers.
- Reporting Requirements: HHS must submit biennial reports to Congress, including data on children served, parental employment outcomes, program impacts on availability, progress toward objectives, and other relevant metrics.
- Exemptions: The program operates independently of most other rules in the Block Grant Act, except for general reporting provisions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 by adding the new Innovation Fund section (658U) and redesignating an existing reporting section (658P) to 658T to avoid conflicts.
- Makes conforming updates to cross-references in the Act's application and reporting sections to reflect the redesignation.
- Introduces a standalone pilot focused on nontraditional hours, separate from broader block grant uses, allowing flexibility without overriding core health and safety standards.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS gains responsibility for administering the pilot, including grant awards, oversight, and reporting, which may require modest administrative resources (funded via reserved appropriations). States and local lead agencies could partner in applications, potentially streamlining child care coordination.
- On Citizens: Working parents in low-wage or shift-based jobs (e.g., healthcare, retail, manufacturing) may gain better child care options, reducing barriers to employment and supporting family stability. This could serve thousands of children, though scale depends on appropriations.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic child care policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Parents and Families: Primarily those with young children and nontraditional work schedules, who benefit from expanded access.
- Child Care Providers: Eligible providers (centers, family homes) and intermediaries (e.g., resource organizations, networks) can apply for grants to grow or improve services.
- Businesses and Employers: Workplaces may establish or expand onsite child care, aiding employee retention in 24/7 industries.
- Government Entities: HHS for administration; state/local child care agencies for partnerships; Congress for oversight via reports.
- Communities: Underserved areas with high shift work may see reduced "child care deserts" for nontraditional hours.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill maintains alignment with existing federal child care laws by exempting the pilot from most Block Grant requirements, promoting innovation without undermining core protections like health/safety standards. It requires licensure/registration for providers, ensuring compliance with state regulations.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it involves standard congressional spending authority under the General Welfare Clause to support families and workforce participation.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by representatives from both parties) suggests broad support for addressing work-life balance in essential jobs. The 5-year pilot structure allows evaluation before potential expansion, minimizing fiscal risk while testing effectiveness through required reporting.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-02-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- After Hours Child Care Act — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (8 pages)