Massachusetts Congresswomen Katherine Clark Introduces Child Care Is Infrastructure Act

Massachusetts Congresswomen Katherine Clark recently introduced the the Child Care Is Infrastructure Act .

You can read the full text of the 42 page bill at this link https://katherineclark.house.gov/_cache/files/9/5/95f1f06a-8c5a-440e-857a-acc5f4bdb6db/BD40C1A8436EDB0A3546C893348D4D96.child-care-is-infrastructure-act.pdf

On a press release on her website page Clark provides a detailed summary of the bill writing

• Directing HHS to conduct two national needs assessments of early child care and learning facilities to understand the impact of the pandemic in the first year and then evaluate the ongoing needs of child care facilities by year four.  

• Establishing a competitive grant program for states, which will be administered by HHS to address renovations or modifications to child care facilities, including any modular adaptations necessary to keep staff and children safe during the pandemic;

• Setting aside a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 15% of the authorized funds to award grants of up to $10 million to intermediary organizations, including certified community development financial institutions or other organizations that have a demonstrated experience in developing or financing early care and learning facilities

• Authorizing $10 billion over five years to invest in our nation’s child care infrastructure. 

This package will also make robust investments in education and workforce development by authorizing $35 million for the following:

• Administering a student loan repayment program of up to $6,000 annually for five years for early childhood educators working for providers eligible to receive CCDBG funding. 

• Providing up to $3,000 annually to eligible individuals pursuing a Childhood Development Associate (CDA) Credential or an associate’s degree

The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the tax credit for employer-provided child care, using data collection to better understand why the tax credit is underutilized. 

Additionally, the package reauthorizes the Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) grant program at $200 million to funds campus-based child care at institutions of higher education to better support parent students.

Finally, the legislation recognizes that child care is essential to communities. Through the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods program, the legislation would ensure program applications receive extra credit for including early learning and child care facilities as a priority. “

Rep Clark also held a town hall with local child care providers including Jessica De Jesus Acevedo owner of Little Star of Ours Family Child program in Cambridge, MA who we have interviewed on this website twice.

You can watch that below.