Child Care for Every Community Act
Sponsored By: Representative Sherrill
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a universal, community-based child care and early learning entitlement that guarantees access for every child younger than compulsory school age. It focuses on affordable slots, community control through designated "prime sponsors," and national standards for quality, workforce, facilities and family supports.
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- Families: Every covered child would be entitled to a funded child care slot and low-income families (at or below 200% of the poverty line) could pay no fees, with family fees capped at 7% of income for others. Programs must offer culturally and linguistically appropriate options and supports for homeless, migrant, dual-language and children with disabilities.
- Workers and providers: The bill would fund training, set staff qualification timelines, and require wages comparable to local school pay or military child care scales with a living wage floor and a cap at Executive Schedule level II. Grants would support recruitment, preservice and inservice training and facility upgrades.
- Communities and states: Local prime sponsors, including tribes and nonprofits, would plan services, coordinate with Head Start, schools and nutrition programs, and could receive supplemental grants to scale in underserved areas. The Secretary would allocate funds with at least 50% of non-entitlement remaining funds for workforce and compensation and at least 20% for supplemental assistance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Universal child care with capped fees
If enacted, every child younger than your state’s school age could get a program spot. Families would pay no more than 7% of income for care; low‑income families would pay $0. A state sliding scale would cap fees by income band (1% to 7%), and some families would have a per‑day cap equal to 2% of income ÷ 52 ÷ 5. The federal government would pay at least 90% of costs, and 100% for migrant and seasonal farmworker children and for Indian Tribe and Native Hawaiian children served by designated sponsors.
National standards and prime sponsor oversight
If enacted, HHS would set national child care standards within 18 months and use outside experts to analyze rates so funding can meet those standards and pay rules. Only approved prime sponsors with annual community plans could run programs, and HHS’s Office of Child Care would oversee, coordinate, and enforce compliance. Staff training would be required for employment, with at least six years to meet any education rules. Prime sponsors could accept other funds and delegate tasks, and any plan denial or sponsor withdrawal would require notice, time to fix, and a chance to appeal.
Multi‑year funding and state guardrails
If enacted, Congress could provide $500 million each year from FY2026 through FY2036 for workforce, quality, research, reporting, supplemental aid, and special grants, with at least 50% for workforce and pay, and at least 20% for supplemental aid. Other parts of the program could get “such sums as needed,” and funds could be appropriated in advance. States and localities getting this help would not be allowed to cut their own child care spending while receiving it.
Priority, full slots, and longer hours
If enacted, the Secretary would favor sponsors that serve many low‑income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, homeless children, children in foster care, or that offer nonstandard hours. Each prime sponsor would have to keep 100% of funded slots filled. A “full‑working‑day” would be at least 10 hours, subject to state rules by age.
Stronger supports and rights for families
If enacted, you would get a family needs review in your language, and services would require your consent. Programs would limit suspensions, ban expulsions for behavior, and document steps to help before any move. Children with delays would get early help and fast referrals, even before an IDEA decision; if not IDEA‑eligible, sponsors would help families find other supports. Programs could use USDA meal programs to provide food.
Better pay, training, and voice for staff
If enacted, staff pay would need to match local public school rates (or military scales), be at least a living wage, and keep up with CPI‑U. Workers could get scholarships, books, transport, and paid time to train; some grants would last at least five years. Sponsors would recognize and bargain with unions, and unions could help set pay, benefits, hours, and standards. Teachers and family providers would get daily curriculum support, including help with lesson plans and child safety.
Privacy, testing limits, and safer facilities
If enacted, the Secretary would protect children’s data with FERPA‑like rules and would not create a national database of child records. The Secretary would set research‑based child assessment standards and limit how tests and test data can be used—no single test could drive eligibility, punish providers, or decide funding. A committee would propose a uniform facility code within a year, and HHS would issue facility standards. The government would also run ongoing research and report to Congress each year.
Build and upgrade child care centers
If enacted, the government could fund building or major repairs for child care sites, buy vehicles, or help pay loans when that is the most cost‑effective way to add space. Construction workers on these projects would be paid prevailing wages under Davis‑Bacon. The Secretary would give technical help to meet codes and report to Congress on available federal sites within 16 months.
No double‑dipping with CCDBG funds
If enacted, children eligible under this Act would get Child Care and Development Block Grant help only for services not covered here. This would prevent using two federal funds for the same service.
More provider types can join program
If enacted, many types of providers could apply to be delegate providers and receive program funds, including nonprofits, for‑profits, family child care networks, home‑based providers, schools, faith‑based groups, and employers. Applicants would have to use required fiscal controls, and prime sponsors would involve parents and the community when choosing providers.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sherrill
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Evans (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Tokuda
HI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Trahan
MA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Brown
OH • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Clark (MA)
MA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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