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.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4628 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4628 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2026 Mr. Marshall (for himself, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. 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 children who have not yet entered first grade; 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 of the United States, or territory of the 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 program described in subparagraph (A) that is a Head Start program, including a migrant and seasonal Head Start program,