Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5363 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5363 To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out an initiative to develop, expand, and improve rural childcare, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 15, 2025 Ms. Perez (for herself, Mr. Mann, Ms. Underwood, and Mr. Baird) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out an initiative to develop, expand, and improve rural childcare, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. EXPANDING CHILDCARE IN RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Childcare.-- (A) In general.--The term ``childcare'' means any program that-- (i) provides quality care and early education for young children who-- (I) are in kindergarten; or (II) have not yet entered kindergarten; and (ii) is operated by-- (I) an eligible childcare provider described in section 658P(6)(A) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(6)(A)); or (II) a childcare provider that, on the date of enactment of this Act-- (aa) is licensed, regulated, or registered in the State, territory, or Indian Tribe in which the provider is located; and (bb) meets applicable State, Tribal, territorial, and local health and safety requirements. (B) Inclusions.--The term ``childcare'' includes-- (i) a school-based program described in subparagraph (A); (ii) a facility used for a program described in subparagraph (A); and (iii) a service provided under