H.R. 3274: Child Care Infrastructure Act

This bill, known as the Child Care Infrastructure Act, aims to enhance child care facilities in the United States through infrastructure improvements. Here are the key components of the bill:

Infrastructure Grants

The bill proposes grants to States to assist with the following:

• Acquiring, constructing, renovating, or improving child care facilities.
• Adapting, reconfiguring, or expanding existing facilities.

Immediate and Long-Term Needs Assessments

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will conduct assessments to identify the current and long-term infrastructure needs of child care facilities, focusing especially on:

• Facilities receiving federal funding.
• Impact factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as capacity and costs for necessary infrastructure updates.

A report detailing these assessments must be submitted to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment for the immediate assessment, and within four years for the long-term assessment.

Eligibility and Prioritization for Grants

States are required to prioritize the following when awarding grants:

• Facilities serving low-income populations.
• Centers that prioritize care for infants and toddlers.
• Facilities currently unable to serve young children due to inadequate conditions.
• Programs operating under nontraditional hours and those located in rural or underserved communities.

Conditions and Requirements for Grants

To receive a grant, States must:

• Submit a detailed application that includes plans for using grant funds and reporting outcomes post-implementation.
• Commit to contributing 10% of the grant amount through public or private donations or investments.

Grants can be up to $250 million annually for general infrastructure improvements and $15 million for intermediary organizations that help manage these grants.

Labor Standards

All construction projects funded by the grants will need to adhere to labor standards ensuring that all workers receive wages at prevailing rates for similar projects, as per the Davis-Bacon Act.

Funding and Appropriations

The bill authorizes $10 billion for fiscal year 2026 to support these initiatives, which will remain available through fiscal year 2030. It sets aside 3% of funds for Indian tribes and territories.

Reports and Evaluation

Following the allocation of infrastructure grants, States are required to report on the impact of these funds, including assessments of increased access and quality of child care facilities. A comprehensive report on these initiatives will be submitted to Congress by fiscal year 2030.

Relevant Companies

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