H.R. 2595

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2595 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2595

To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide 
funding to sustain and increase the supply and quality of child care, 
access to child care, and the child care workforce, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 2, 2025

Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Moore of 
Wisconsin, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Sanchez, Mr. Doggett, Mr. 
Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms. Salinas, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Chu, Mr. Larson of 
Connecticut, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Norton, Mrs. 
Watson Coleman, and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide 
funding to sustain and increase the supply and quality of child care, 
access to child care, and the child care workforce, 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. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Building Child Care for a Better 
Future Act''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE CHILD CARE ENTITLEMENT TO STATES.

(a) In General.--Section 418(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 618(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
``(3) Appropriation.--
``(A) In general.--For grants under this section, 
there are appropriated--
``(i) for fiscal year 2026, 
$20,000,000,000; and
``(ii) for each fiscal year after fiscal 
year 2026, the greater of--
``(I) the amount appropriated under 
this subparagraph for the previous 
fiscal year, increased by the 
percentage increase (if any) in the 
consumer price index for all urban 
consumers (all items; United States 
city average) for the most recent 12-
month period for which data is 
available; and
``(II) the amount appropriated 
under this subparagraph for the 
previous fiscal year.
``(B) Amounts reserved.--Of the amount appropriated 
under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year--
``(i) an amount equal to 5 percent of such 
amount shall be available for grants to Indian 
tribes and tribal organizations;
``(ii) an amount equal to 4 percent of such 
amount shall be available for grants to 
territories;
``(iii) an amount, not to exceed \1/2\ of 1 
percent of such amount, shall be reserved by 
the Secretary to support technical assistance 
and dissemination activities under paragraphs 
(3) and (4) of section 658I(a) of the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; 
and
``(iv) an amount equal to \1/2\ of 1 
percent of such amount appropriated may be 
reserved by the Secretary to conduct research 
and demonstration activities, as well as 
periodic external, independent evaluations of 
the impact of the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant program established under 
subchapter C of chapter 8 of title VI of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 
(Public Law 97-35), as carried out under this 
subsection and under such subchapter, on 
increasing access to child care services and 
improving the safety and quality of child care 
services, using scientifically valid research 
methodologies, and to disseminate the key 
findings of those evaluations widely and on a 
timely basis.''.
(b) Redistribution of Funds Reserved for Tribal Grants.--Section 
418(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4), the following:
``(5) Redistribution of unused tribal grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall determine an 
appropriate procedure for redistributing the amounts 
described in subparagraph (B) for each fiscal year to 
each Indian tribe and tribal organization that applies 
for such amounts, to the extent the Secretary 
determines that the Indian tribe or tribal organization 
will be able to use such additional amounts to provide 
child care assistance.
``(B) Amounts described.--The amounts described in 
this subparagraph are, with respect to a fiscal year, 
the unused amounts of any payment made to an Indian 
tribe or tribal organization under this subsection for 
the fiscal year which the Secretary determines will not 
be used by the Indian tribe or tribal organization 
during the period in which such payments are available 
to be obligated.''.
(c) Removal of Restriction on Application of Updated FMAP.--Section 
418(a)(2)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)(2)(C)) is amended by 
striking ``, as such section was in effect on September 30, 1995''.
(d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 418 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and 
inserting ``paragraph (3)(A) and remaining after the 
application of paragraph (3)(B),'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``paragraph 
(3)(A),'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)(A) and 
remaining after the application of paragraph (3)(B) 
and'';
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
``paragraph (3)(C)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
(3)(B)(ii)''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (E); and
(D) in paragraph (6), (as redesignated by 
subsection (b)(1)), by inserting ``(as in effect on 
June 29, 2003)'' after ``section 403(a)(1)(D)'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``by a State under 
this section'' and inserting ``by a State, a territory, or an 
Indian tribe or tribal organization under subsection (a)'';
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Application of Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts provided to 
a State, a territory, or a Indian tribe or tribal organization under 
subsection (a) shall be transferred to the lead agency under the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, integrated by the State, 
territory, or Indian tribe or tribal organization into the programs 
established by the State, territory, Indian tribe or tribal 
organization under such Act, and be subject to requirements and 
limitations of such Act.''; and
(4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means entities 
included on the list published pursuant to section 104(a) of 
the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 
U.S.C. 5131(a)).
``(2) State.--The term `State' means each of the 50 States 
and the District of Columbia.
``(3) Territory.--The term `territory' means the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.
``(4) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
means--
``(A) the recognized governing body of any Indian 
tribe, and any legally established organization of 
Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered 
by such governing body or which is democratically 
elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and which includes the 
maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its 
activities, except that in any case where a contract is 
let or grant made to an organization to perform 
services benefitting more than one Indian tribe, the 
approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a 
prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract 
or grant; and
``(B) includes a Native Hawaiian organization, as 
defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517) and a private 
nonprofit organization established for the purpose of 
serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on October 1, 2025.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO IMPROVE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE, SUPPLY, QUALITY, AND 
ACCESS IN AREAS OF PARTICULAR NEED.

(a) In General.--Section 418 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
618), as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
``(e) Grants To Improve Child Care Workforce, Supply, Quality, and 
Access in Areas of Particular Need.--
``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
subsection, the preceding provisions of this section shall not 
apply to this subsection.
``(2) Appropriations.--
``(A) In general.--For grants under this subsection 
to improve child care workforce, supply, quality, and 
access in areas of particular need, there are 
appropriated $5,000,000,000 for each fiscal year.
``(B) Amounts reserved.--Of the amount appropriated 
under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall reserve--
``(i) an amount equal to 5 percent of such 
amount for grants to Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations;
``(ii) an amount equal to 4 percent of such 
amount for grants to territories;
``(iii) an amount, not to exceed \1/2\ of 1 
percent of such amount, to support technical 
assistance and dissemination activities related 
to improving child care workforce, supply, 
quality, and access, including in areas of 
particular need, under paragraphs (3) and (4), 
respectively, of section 658I(a) of the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990;
``(iv) an amount equal to \1/2\ of 1 
percent of such amount to carry out the 
evaluation required under paragraph (8); and
``(v) an amount, not to exceed 3 percent of 
such amount, for administrative expenses of the 
Secretary in administering this subsection.
``(3) Grants.--
``(A) Indian tribes and tribal organizations.--The 
Secretary shall use the amount reserved under paragraph 
(2)(B)(i) for a fiscal year to make grants under this 
subsection for the fiscal year to Indian tribes and 
tribal organizations in amounts that shall be allotted 
among Indian tribes and tribal organizations in 
proportion to their respective needs.
``(B) Territories.--The Secretary shall use the 
amount reserved under paragraph (2)(B)(ii) for a fiscal 
year to make grants under this subsection for the 
fiscal year to each territory in amounts that shall be 
allotted among the territories in proportion to their 
respective needs.
``(C) States.--The Secretary shall use the amount 
appropriated under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) 
for a fiscal year that remains after the application of 
subparagraph (B) of that paragraph, to make grants for 
the fiscal year under this subsection to each State in 
amounts that bear the same proportion to the amount so 
remaining as the sum of the amount granted under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and the amount allotted 
and paid under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to each 
such State for the fiscal year (without regard to 
amounts redistributed under subparagraph (D) of 
subsection (a)(2) for the fiscal year) bears to the 
total amounts granted and allotted to all of the States 
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection for 
such fiscal year.
``(4) Incorporation into ccdbg plan.--
``(A) Contents.--In order to be paid a grant under 
this subsection for a fiscal year, the lead agency of a 
State, territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization 
shall submit to the Secretary, as part of the initial 
submission of the Child Care and Development Block 
Grant plan for the period that includes such fiscal 
year, or as an amendment to that plan, a description of 
the planned use of grant funds that--
``(i) describes the demographic and 
economic data and other criteria the lead 
agency proposes to use to determine whether an 
area is in particular need of child care;
``(ii) describes how community members were 
engaged to identify community-specific needs 
such as diverse types of care delivery, care 
for infant and toddlers, multilingual care, and 
nontraditional operational hours;
``(iii) identifies specific areas 
determined to be in particular need of child 
care, where such areas are located, the size 
and scope of such areas, and the age groups of 
children in need of child care in such areas;
``(iv) outlines how the lead agency 
proposes to use the grant funds to increase 
child care workforce, supply, quality, and 
access for all families, including families who 
are eligible for subsidies under the Child Care 
and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, in the 
areas determined to be in particular need of 
child care through activities such as--
``(I) contracting and providing 
grants to child care providers to pay 
for specified numbers of child care 
slots (including slots in family child 
care homes) and to build supply and 
stability by including expectations for 
compensation in the contracts and 
grants;
``(II) establishing or expanding 
the operation of community or 
neighborhood-based family child care 
networks by providing grants and 
contracts for training and other 
activities that increase the supply and 
quality of family child care;
``(III) furnishing child care 
providers with start-up funding, 
technical assistance, support for 
improving business practices, and 
support navigating real estate 
financing and development processes, 
including leveraging additional 
facilities financing resources;
``(IV) providing guidance to child 
care providers on negotiating with 
landlords or applying for land or home 
ownership;
``(V) providing technical 
assistance to child care providers 
throughout the child care licensing 
process;
``(VI) recruiting child care 
providers and staff;
``(VII) supporting the training and 
professional development of the child 
care workforce including through 
apprenticeships, partnerships with 
labor unions or labor-management 
partnerships, and partnerships with 
public and nonprofit institutions of 
higher education to provide 
comprehensive scholarships that support 
equitable access to, and completion of, 
credentials and degrees in early 
childhood education;
``(VIII) attracting and maintaining 
an effective and diverse early care 
workforce by increasing total 
compensation, providing wage 
supplements or bonuses, or offering 
wage and retention rewards and ensuring 
adequate wages for staff of child care 
providers, including sole proprietors 
and independent contractors, that, at a 
minimum--
``(aa) provide a living 
wage for all staff of such 
child care providers; and
``(bb) are adjusted on an 
annual basis for cost of living 
increases to ensure payment 
rates remain sufficient to meet 
the requirements of this 
subsection;
``(IX) subject to subparagraph (C), 
providing financial support (without 
regard to limitations on expenditures 
imposed under section 658F(b) of the 
Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990) for projects involving the 
purchase or improvement of land, a 
major renovation, repurposing 
facilities, the purchase, acquisition, 
construction, or permanent improvement 
of any building or facility, including 
major renovation and minor remodeling, 
indoor or outdoor modifications, 
including such modifications to support 
accessibility for children with 
disabilities, predevelopment or soft 
costs, and for projects to upgrade 
child care facilities to assure that 
providers meet State and local child 
care standards, including applicable 
health, safety, and quality 
requirements; or
``(X) subject to subparagraph (C), 
contracting with an intermediary with 
experience securing private sources of 
capital financing for child care 
facilities or other low-income 
community development projects to 
provide financial or managerial 
assistance, technical support through 
the real estate process, including 
successful execution of Federal 
interest documentation, or furnishing 
an evaluation of sustainability or 
operational capacity of providers;
``(v) in the case of a State or territory, 
contains an assurance that the State or 
territory shall collaborate with respect to the 
use of grant funds to improve child care 
workforce, supply, quality, and access in areas 
of particular need identified within the State 
or territory with each Indian tribe and tribal 
organization in such area; and
``(vi) contains such other information as 
the Secretary may require.
``(B) Approval.--The Secretary shall approve a 
planned use of funds submission that contains the 
information required under subparagraph (A), and, with 
respect to the proposed criteria required under 
subparagraph (A)(i), shall accept any reasonable 
criteria that are based on internal analyses by a lead 
agency of a State, territory, Indian tribe, or tribal 
organization or analyses by organizations with 
experience in evaluating research on various approaches 
to identifying areas where there is a low supply of 
child care that is affordable and that is in particular 
need of child care.
``(C) Special rules.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
develop parameters on the use of funds from an 
allotment paid under this subsection for 
projects described in subclause (IX) or (X) of 
subparagraph (A)(iv).
``(ii) Requirement.--The parameters 
developed under clause (i) shall provide that, 
in the case of funds from an allotment paid 
under this subsection that are used for 
projects described in subclause (IX) or (X) of 
subparagraph (A)(iv)--
``(I) for such projects involving a 
privately-owned family child care home, 
the Secretary shall not retain any 
Federal interest; and
``(II) for all other such projects, 
the Secretary shall not retain a 
Federal interest after a period of 10 
years.
``(iii) Wage rates.--All laborers and 
mechanics employed by contractors or 
subcontractors in the performance of 
construction, alteration, or repair work 
carried out, in whole or in part, with funds 
from an allotment paid under this subsection 
for projects described in subparagraph (A)(iv) 
shall be paid wages at rates not less than the 
prevailing rates for projects of a similar 
character in the locality as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor in accordance with 
subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United 
States Code. With respect to the labor 
standards specified in the first sentence of 
this clause, the Secretary of Labor shall have 
the authority and functions set forth in 
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 
Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of 
title 40, United States Code.
``(5) Other funding and payment rules.--
``(A) Approval and payment deadline.--The Secretary 
shall make quarterly payments to the lead agency of 
each State, territory, Indian tribe, and tribal 
organization with a planned use of funds submission 
approved under paragraph (4) from the grant determined 
for the State, territory, Indian tribe, or tribal 
organization under paragraph (3) for a fiscal year.
``(B) No matching requirement.--Neither 
subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(2) nor any other 
cash or in-kind matching requirement shall apply to the 
grants paid under this subsection.
``(C) Maintenance of effort.--
``(i) Certification funds will supplement, 
not supplant, general revenue expenditures.--
Each State paid a grant under this subsection 
for a fiscal year shall certify that the grant 
funds will be used to supplement and not 
supplant the level of general revenue 
expenditures from State, local, and other non-
Federal sources that are used to provide child 
care assistance for low-income families.
``(ii) State minimum expenditures 
requirement.--
``(I) In general.--Each State paid 
a grant under this subsection for a 
fiscal year shall certify that the 
State shall satisfy the required 
minimum general revenue expenditures 
for child care assistance for low-
income families dollar amount 
applicable to the State for the fiscal 
year.
``(II) State minimum general 
revenue expenditures for child care 
assistance for low-income families 
dollar amount.--With respect to a State 
and a fiscal year, the minimum general 
revenue expenditures for child care 
assistance for low-income families 
dollar amount for the State and fiscal 
year is--
``(aa) in the case of the 
first fiscal year for which the 
State is paid a grant under 
this subsection, the aggregate 
dollar amount of general 
revenue expenditures for child 
care assistance for low-income 
families for the most recent 
State fiscal year for which 
data is available; and
``(bb) in the case of any 
succeeding fiscal year, the 
greater of--

``(AA) the minimum 
baseline dollar amount 
of general revenue 
expenditures for child 
care assistance for 
low-income families 
applicable to the State 
for the preceding year; 
and

``(BB) the minimum 
baseline dollar amount 
of general revenue 
expenditures for child 
care assistance for 
low-income families for 
the most recent State 
fiscal year for which 
data is available.

``(III) Annual guidance.--The 
Secretary shall issue annual guidance 
to States specifying--
``(aa) the data and 
reporting that will be required 
for purposes of enforcing the 
State minimum general revenue 
expenditures for child care 
assistance for low-income 
families dollar amount 
requirement under this 
subparagraph; and
``(bb) for each fiscal year 
and State for which a grant is 
paid under this subsection, the 
minimum general revenue 
expenditures for child care 
assistance for low-income 
families dollar amount that is 
required for the State and 
fiscal year.
``(D) Period for availability; redistribution of 
unused funds.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
clause (ii), the period in which the funds from 
grants paid under this subsection for a fiscal 
year are available for expenditure, the 
determination as to whether funds from the 
grant will not be used, and the procedure for 
redistributing unused funds, shall be made in 
the same manner as if--
``(I) in the case of 1 of the 50 
States or the District of Columbia, the 
funds were considered amounts allotted 
to the State or District under 
subsection (a)(2)(B) for a fiscal year;
``(II) in the case of a territory, 
the funds were considered a grant made 
to the territory under subsection 
(a)(4) for such fiscal year; and
``(III) in the case of an Indian 
tribe or tribal organization, the funds 
were considered a grant made to the 
Indian tribe or tribal organization 
under subsection (a) for such fiscal 
year.
``(ii) Extension of availability of funds 
used for certain projects.--If funds from a 
grant paid under this subsection are used to 
provide financial support for a project 
described in subclause (IX) or (X) of paragraph 
(4)(A)(iv), the funds shall remain available 
for expenditure by the lead agency of a State, 
territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization 
(as applicable) for a period of 5 years.
``(E) Inapplicability of territorial payment 
limitation.--Section 1108(a) shall not apply with 
respect to any funds paid under this subsection.
``(6) Use of funds.--
``(A) In general.--To the extent permitted under 
this paragraph, section 658G(b) of the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant Act of 1990, and the approved 
planned use of funds submission of the lead agency of a 
State, territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization 
under paragraph (4), each such lead agency shall use 
funds from a grant paid under this subsection to 
increase child care workforce, supply, quality, and 
access in areas determined to be in particular need of 
child care (with activities provided directly, or 
through grants or contracts with local child care 
resource and referral organizations or other 
appropriate entities). Activities carried out with such 
funds shall be--
``(i) designed to improve the quality of 
child care services, including improving the 
quality of the child care workforce, and 
increase parental options for, and access to, 
high-quality child care, especially in areas of 
concentrated poverty; and
``(ii) in alignment with the most recent 
statewide or tribal assessment of the State's 
or Indian tribe's or tribal organization's 
needs to carry out such services and care.
``(B) Priority.--If a lead agency chooses to make 
grants from the funds paid under this subsection, each 
such lead agency shall give priority to funding child 
care services that will use the grant to provide or 
coordinate services in order to--
``(i) provide child care services during 
nontraditional hours;
``(ii) serve dual language learners, 
children with disabilities, children 
experiencing homelessness, children in foster 
care, children from low-income families, or 
infants and toddlers;
``(iii) serve a high proportion of children 
whose families are eligible for subsidies under 
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
of 1990 for the child care;
``(iv) operate in rural communities with a 
low supply of child care;
``(v) support child care services provided 
by public entities, non-profit entities, and 
small businesses that are at least 51 percent 
owned and controlled by individuals who are 
socially and economically disadvantaged, as 
defined by the Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration; or
``(vi) provide competitive wages and 
support the recruitment and retention of a 
high-quality child care workforce, including 
through increased compensation (including wages 
and benefits), bonuses, tuition or fee support 
for educational attainment or professional 
development, child care apprenticeship 
programs, or other financial incentives.
``(C) Head start and early head start programs.--A 
lead agency may use funds from a grant paid under this 
subsection for activities or assistance under a Head 
Start program (including an Early Head Start program) 
carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
seq.).
``(D) Administration through the child care and 
development block grant act of 1990.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
clause (ii) or to the extent otherwise provided 
in this subsection, subsection (c) shall apply 
to the grants paid under this subsection in the 
same manner as that subsection applies to 
amounts paid under subsection (a).
``(ii) Nonapplication of certain use of 
funds requirements.--The requirements of 
subparagraphs (D) and (E) of section 658E(c)(3) 
of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990 shall not apply to the grants paid 
under this subsection.
``(7) Reports.--
``(A) CCDBG reports.--The lead agency of each 
State, territory, Indian tribe, and tribal organization 
paid a grant under this subsection for a fiscal year 
shall include information regarding how the lead agency 
spent the grant in each monthly, quarterly, or annual 
report, as applicable, submitted under section 
658K(a)(2) of the Child Care and Development Block 
Grant Act of 1990. The information required to be 
collected and reported under this paragraph shall be--
``(i) in addition to, and shall not affect, 
reporting and data collection requirements 
imposed under the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990, including to the 
extent any information specified under this 
paragraph also is required to be included in a 
report submitted under that Act; and
``(ii) made publicly available.
``(B) 1-year post-award report.--Not later than 6 
months after receipt of the first payment from a grant 
under this subsection, the lead agency of the State, 
territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization (as 
applicable) shall submit a report to the Secretary that 
includes information and data (reported on such basis 
as the Secretary shall specify) regarding--
``(i) the supply of child care in the areas 
determined to be in particular need of child 
care by the lead agency, including with respect 
to the pre-grant award assessment of the number 
of Child Care and Development Block Grant-
eligible child care slots reserved by grants or 
contracts in such areas and the pre-grant award 
assessment of the number of providers who are 
regulated under State law in such areas, and 
the number of providers who are not covered by 
or are exempt from such a regulation but are 
eligible child care providers providing 
services under the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et 
seq.) in such areas; and
``(ii) the supply, quality, and access of 
child care in the areas determined to be in 
particular need of child care by the lead 
agency.
``(C) 3-year post-award report.--Not later than 
December 31 of the calendar year in which the third 
fiscal year for which the lead agency of a State, 
territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization is paid 
a grant under this subsection ends, the lead agency 
shall submit a report to the Secretary that includes 
the following information:
``(i) Data that describes the impact of 
expenditures of grant funds on--
``(I) the supply of child care in 
the areas determined to be in 
particular need of child care by the 
lead agency, including with respect to 
the pre-grant award assessment of the 
number of Child Care and Development 
Block Grant-eligible child care slots 
reserved by grants or contracts in such 
areas and the pre-grant award 
assessment of the number of providers 
who are regulated under State law in 
such areas, and the number of providers 
who are not covered by or are exempt 
from such a regulation but are eligible 
child care providers providing services 
under the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 
et seq.) in such areas; and
``(II) the supply, quality, and 
access of child care in the areas 
determined to be in particular need of 
child care by the lead agency, and on 
the extent to which areas in which such 
funds were used experienced outcomes 
that reduced the conditions in such 
areas which factored into such 
determination.
``(ii) Information specifying the areas 
determined to be in particular need of child 
care by the lead agency and the activities in 
which grant funds were used in such areas.
``(iii) Demographic data on the child care 
providers receiving funds and on the families 
and children served.
``(iv) Information specifying whether grant 
funds were used for projects described in 
subclause (IX) or (X) of paragraph (4)(A)(iv) 
and if so, the status of such projects, 
including if such projects are ongoing at the 
time of reporting.
``(D) Submission to congress.--The information 
reported in accordance with subparagraphs (A), (B), and 
(C) shall be incorporated into the biennial reports to 
Congress by the Secretary required under section 
658L(a) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990.
``(8) Regular evaluations.--
``(A) In general.--From a geographically diverse 
selection of the lead agencies paid a grant under this 
subsection that includes representation of States, 
territories, and Indian tribes and tribal 
organizations, the Secretary regularly shall evaluate 
the impact of the activities carried out by such lead 
agencies with respect to improving the supply and 
quality of child care in the areas determined to be in 
particular need of child care by such lead agencies.
``(B) Supply assessment.--In evaluating the extent 
to which there are improvements in the supply of child 
care in the areas determined to be in particular need 
of child care, the Secretary shall focus on the 
following areas:
``(i) General availability of child care 
services.
``(ii) Availability of child care services 
that--
``(I) are provided during 
nontraditional hours;
``(II) serve dual language 
learners, children with disabilities, 
children experiencing homelessness, 
children in foster care, children from 
low-income families, or infants and 
toddlers;
``(III) serve a high proportion of 
children whose families are eligible 
for subsidies under the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant Act of 1990; 
and
``(IV) operate in rural communities 
with a low supply of child care.
``(iii) Opportunity for parental choice in 
child care services.
``(iv) Improvement in workforce recruitment 
and retention for child care services.
``(C) Quality assessment.--In evaluating the extent 
to which there are improvements in the quality of child 
care in the areas determined to be in particular need 
of child care, the Secretary shall focus on at least 5 
of the following areas:
``(i) Ratios of staff to children and group 
size.
``(ii) Developmentally appropriate 
curriculum.
``(iii) Approaches to instruction.
``(iv) Relationship quality between 
children and staff.
``(v) Children's learning and development.
``(vi) Physical environment quality and 
ability to protect children and staff from 
illness and injury.
``(vii) Qualifications, experience, and 
specialized training of staff.
``(viii) Opportunities for staff 
professional development.
``(ix) Wages and benefits for staff.
``(x) Ability to foster relationships with 
families and communities.
``(xi) Leadership and management capacity.
``(xii) Creating a stable work environment 
for staff retention.
``(xiii) Pursuit or earning of national 
accreditation.
``(D) Report.--The Secretary shall--
``(i) submit a report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress regarding the 
evaluations of the impact of the activities 
carried out by lead agencies with funds from 
grants paid under this subsection--
``(I) within 180 days of the 
completion of each such evaluation; and
``(II) at least once every 5 years; 
and
``(ii) make each such report, along with 
the data and report for each evaluation, 
publicly available.
``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
`appropriate committees of Congress' means the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Ways and 
Means, and the Committee on Education and Workforce of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee on Finance, and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate.
``(B) Lead agency.--The term `lead agency' has the 
meaning given that term in section 658P(9) of the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on October 1, 2025.
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