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119-hr-8590119th CongressWALLET

CARE for Parenting Students Act

Sponsored By: Representative Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

Introduced

Summary

Expands access to child care assistance for parenting students by broadening which education and training programs qualify and by adding new federal funding to support that expansion.

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  • Parenting students can count more program types toward the parental activity requirement, including accredited higher education programs, programs accredited by Department of Education‑recognized agencies, programs registered with the Department of Labor or state labor agencies, and state‑approved nursing assistant training.
  • States and child care providers can treat these newly recognized programs as meeting eligibility checks, which can let more parenting students qualify for help with child care.
  • Adds new annual federal funding to carry out the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act from 2027 through 2031 to support expanded services and access.

*Authorizes an additional $850 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, which increases federal spending by $850 million annually during those five years.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More federal child care funding

If enacted, the bill would authorize an additional $850 million per year for child care grants for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031. The money would be in addition to amounts otherwise authorized under current law. States and child care grant recipients could use appropriated funds to expand or sustain child care subsidies that help parenting students and other families. This provision only authorizes the money; Congress would still need to appropriate it.

Wider child care eligibility for student parents

If enacted, the bill would expand what counts as a qualifying parental activity for child care help. New qualifying programs would include programs accredited by a college, programs accredited by a Department of Education–recognized agency, programs registered with the Department of Labor or a State labor agency, and state-approved nursing assistant training required for licensing or certification. If you are a parenting student enrolled in one of these programs, you would be more likely to qualify for CCDBG-funded child care assistance. The change adjusts eligibility rules but does not itself provide new funding.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

WA • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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