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.

Roger Marshall

Republican · KS · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Joni Ernst (R-IA)Original· 2026-05-21
• Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH)Original· 2026-05-21
• Tina Smith (D-MN)Original· 2026-05-21

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative to prioritize certain loans and grants that address childcare in rural areas. Under the bill, childcare includes eligible programs that provide quality care and early education for children who have not yet entered first grade. Under the initiative, USDA must give priority to applicants that propose to use certain loans or grants to address the availability, quality, or costs of childcare in rural areas. In addition, USDA must ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits. USDA must conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out under the initiative and submit a report to Congress.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4628 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4628 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2026 Mr. Marshall (for himself, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. EXPANDING CHILDCARE IN RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Childcare.-- (A) In general.--The term ``childcare'' means any program that-- (i) provides quality care and early education for children who have not yet entered first grade; and (ii) is operated by-- (I) an eligible childcare provider described in section 658P(6)(A) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(6)(A)); or (II) a childcare provider that, on the date of enactment of this Act-- (aa) is licensed, regulated, or registered in the State, territory of the United States, or territory of the Indian Tribe in which the provider is located; and (bb) meets applicable State, Tribal, territorial, and local health and safety requirements. (B) Inclusions.--The term ``childcare'' includes-- (i) a school-based program described in subparagraph (A); (ii) a program described in subparagraph (A) that is a Head Start program, including a migrant and seasonal Head Start program, or an American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.); (iii) a facility used for a program described in subparagraph (A); and (iv) a service provided under a program described in subparagraph (A). (2) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative established under subsection (b). (3) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' has the meaning given the term in section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)). (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an initiative, to be known as the ``Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative'', under which the Secretary shall provide, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029, priority in accordance with subsection (c) to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas. (c) Childcare Priorities.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in selecting recipients of loans and grants under a program described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified applicant that proposes to use the loan or grant to address the availability, quality, or cost of childcare in a rural area. (2) Description of programs.--The programs referred to in paragraph (1) are the following: (A) The essential community facilities loan and grant programs authorized under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)). (B) The business and industry direct and guaranteed loan program authorized under section 310B(g) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)). (C) The rural microentrepreneur assistance program authorized under section 379E of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s). (D) The intermediary relending program authorized under section 310H of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1936b). (d) Requirement.--In providing funding in accordance with the Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits…

under the Initiative. (e) Evaluation; Report.-- (1) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out using assistance provided under the Initiative, including-- (A) a description of-- (i) the types of projects carried out; (ii) the communities in which the projects are carried out; (iii) the organizations and entities participating in the projects; and (iv) the types of partnerships developed to carry out the projects; and (B) the economic and social impacts of the investments in the projects. (2) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), including a thorough analysis of the outcomes of the evaluation. <all>

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