HR5658119th CongressWALLET

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.

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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