After Hours Child Care Act

After-Hours Child Care Grants

This bill would require the HHS Secretary to start a competitive pilot grant program within 90 days of enactment. Grants would help providers expand child care for parents who work nontraditional hours. Nontraditional hours mean at least 25% of work is before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m., on weekends, or scheduled within seven days before required attendance. Awards would run five years, be $25,000 to $500,000 each, and recipients must provide a 25% non‑Federal match. Funds could pay for staff, facility and equipment upgrades, curriculum, licensure and health/safety improvements, and SIDS and safe-sleep training. The Secretary would report to Congress every two years on children served and parents' employment, and could reserve 0.25% of appropriated subchapter funds for 2027–2031 to run the program.