A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 4628
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-22T16:22:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative. Its goal is to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of childcare services in rural areas by giving priority consideration to related projects when awarding certain USDA loans and grants.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines "childcare" to include licensed or regulated programs providing care and early education for children before first grade, such as school-based programs, Head Start programs, and related facilities or services. "Rural area" follows the existing definition in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
- Initiative Establishment: The Secretary must run the Initiative for fiscal years 2027 through 2029, giving priority to qualified applicants proposing to use funds for childcare projects in rural areas.
- Priority Programs: Priority applies to four existing USDA programs:
- Essential community facilities loans and grants (section 306(a)).
- Business and industry direct and guaranteed loans (section 310B(g)).
- Rural microentrepreneur assistance program (section 379E).
- Intermediary relending program (section 310H).
- Geographic Balance: Funding must be distributed evenly across regions.
- Evaluation and Reporting: The Secretary must complete a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of funded projects within three years and submit a report to the Senate and House agriculture committees within four years, covering project types, locations, partners, and economic/social impacts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill does not amend the underlying statutes for the listed loan and grant programs. Instead, it adds a new statutory priority rule requiring the Secretary to favor childcare-related proposals in rural areas when selecting recipients, overriding other selection criteria where conflicts arise.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Agriculture must adjust its grant and loan review processes to incorporate the new priority and conduct the required evaluation.
- Citizens: Rural families may gain improved access to childcare, potentially supporting workforce participation, while childcare providers and rural businesses could receive easier financing for new or expanded facilities.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Rural communities and families needing childcare.
- Childcare providers (including Head Start operators and licensed centers).
- USDA rural development offices.
- Organizations applying for the listed loan and grant programs.
- Congressional agriculture committees receiving the evaluation report.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure operates within Congress’s authority over agriculture and rural development programs. It introduces no apparent constitutional issues and maintains a neutral, bipartisan approach focused on program administration rather than new regulatory mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (6 pages)