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119-s-3862119th CongressWALLET

Payment Integrity Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Ties child care payments to verified attendance rather than enrollment. This bill would amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require lead agencies to pay providers based on verified attendance using attendance records or another reasonable verification method, and it would allow lead agencies to make payments after services are provided while leaving agencies responsible for establishing the verification process.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New attendance-based child care payments

If enacted, lead agencies would be allowed to make payments to child care providers after services are provided. The bill would require state or lead agency plans to assure payments are based on verified attendance, not enrollment alone. Verified attendance would be checked with attendance records or another reasonable verification method. This change would take effect upon enactment. It could make some providers ask parents to pay up front or change enrollment practices.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 2/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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