A bill to direct the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships to establish, expand, or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4597 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4597 To direct the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships to establish, expand, or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 20, 2026 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships to establish, expand, or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education. 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 ``Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF STUDY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. (a) Grant Program Authorized.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships for the purpose of establishing, supporting, or expanding career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education. (b) Application.--To be considered for a grant under this section, an eligible partnership shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including-- (1) a