A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.

More childcare help for rural families

This bill would direct the Agriculture Secretary to create an Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative for fiscal years 2027–2029. It would require USDA to give priority when awarding loans and grants to applicants using funds to improve childcare availability, quality, or cost in rural areas. Priority would apply across several USDA loan and grant programs, including essential community facilities loans and grants, business and industry loans, rural microentrepreneur assistance, and intermediary relending. Childcare would be defined to cover programs for children not yet in first grade, including school-based and Head Start programs. The Secretary would have to spread benefits across regions, evaluate projects within 3 years after enactment, and report results to Congress within 4 years. This would aim to expand local childcare options and help small rural providers get loans or grants where projects are funded.