Stop Child Care Fraud Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7725
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-06: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 511.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:41:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Stop Child Care Fraud Act of 2026 (H.R. 7725) aims to strengthen oversight and reduce fraud in the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program by requiring states to detail their anti-fraud measures in their state plans.
Key Provisions
- States must include in their CCDBG state plans a description of:
- Internal controls to ensure program integrity and accountability.
- Processes to investigate and recover fraudulent payments.
- Sanctions imposed on clients (families) or providers in cases of fraud.
- Procedures to document and verify eligibility for child care assistance.
- Use of data sharing with other state and local agencies that oversee child care providers serving subsidized children.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 658E(c)(2) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 by adding a new subparagraph (W).
- Introduces mandatory reporting on fraud prevention, which was not previously required in state plans.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: States may face increased administrative work to document and share anti-fraud processes; federal oversight of CCDBG could improve, potentially reducing improper payments.
- Citizens: Families receiving child care subsidies may benefit from a more trustworthy program; fraudulent providers could face stricter penalties.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders
- State child care agencies: Responsible for creating and submitting detailed plans.
- Child care providers: Subject to investigations, sanctions, and data verification.
- Families/eligible clients: Affected by eligibility checks and fraud recovery efforts.
- Federal government (e.g., Department of Health and Human Services): Gains better transparency on state-level program management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances accountability without new funding mandates; relies on existing data-sharing laws between agencies.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports federal spending oversight under the Spending Clause.
- Political: Promotes fiscal responsibility in social welfare programs, potentially appealing across party lines by targeting waste and fraud.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-06: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 511.
- 2026-04-06: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-591.
- 2026-04-06: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-591.
- 2026-03-05: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 35 - 0.
- 2026-03-05: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Child Care Fraud Act — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (2 pages)
- Stop Child Care Fraud Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-06 — PDF (6 pages)