A Republican bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors · See all 19 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The After Hours Child Care Act aims to establish a Child Care and Development Innovation Fund. This fund creates a pilot program where the Secretary of Health and Human Services awards competitive grants to various entities. The goal is to improve child care access for parents working nontraditional hours, such as evenings, nights, or weekends. Grants can be used to expand existing programs, establish onsite workplace programs, or create new child care programs. These funds are intended to help working parents stay attached to the workforce and increase their earning potential. The program includes specific guidelines for grant amounts, duration, and required matching funds.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill provides grants to expand child care capacity and improve facilities for working families.
- Scored +4
Would children be better off under this?
The bill funds improvements in child care facilities, equipment, and safety training.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Expanding child care access helps low-income working parents maintain workforce attachment.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Access for Working Parents: The bill seeks to improve child care access for parents working hours outside of the traditional 9 to 5 window, including evenings, nights, or weekends (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Workforce Stability and Growth: By addressing the needs of parents with young children, the act aims to help parents stay attached to the workforce, which can lead to promotions, salary increases, and the ability to amass savings (Section 2(a)(2)).
-
Expansion of Child Care Options: Grants can be used to expand the capacity of existing programs, including family child care providers, or establish new ones specifically to serve families with nontraditional work schedules (Section 2(c)(1)(A) and (F)).
-
Workplace Support: The bill allows for the establishment or expansion of onsite child care programs at a workplace to serve families (Section 2(c)(1)(D) and (E)).
-
Enhanced Program Quality and Safety: Funds may be used to improve facilities, equipment, and curriculum, as well as to assist providers in meeting health and safety requirements or providing training in safe sleep practices (Section 2(f)(1)-(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Financial Requirement for Grant Recipients: Entities receiving a grant are required to provide a non-Federal share of the cost amounting to 25 percent (Section 2(g)).
-
Limited Funding Duration: Grants are awarded for a period of 5 years and are not eligible for renewal (Section 2(c)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill funds improvements in child care facilities, equipment, and safety training. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Expanding child care access helps low-income working parents maintain workforce attachment. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides support for parents working nontraditional hours to improve their earnings. Would women be better off under this? — Providing expanded child care options supports parents, a demographic that often bears the brunt of caregiving responsibilities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill provides grants to expand child care capacity and improve facilities for working families. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill aims to help parents attain promotions and salary increases to amass savings.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports workforce attachment which can lead to higher earning potential and job stability. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By increasing child care access for nontraditional hours, the bill helps parents stay in the workforce.
- 10/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/16/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 2/26/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Joaquin CastroDemocrat · Texas
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
J. HillRepublican · Arkansas
William KeatingDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia
Susie LeeDemocrat · Nevada
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Tracey MannRepublican · Kansas
Ryan MackenzieRepublican · Pennsylvania
Mark PocanDemocrat · Wisconsin
Chris PappasDemocrat · New Hampshire
Elise StefanikRepublican · New York
Eric SorensenDemocrat · Illinois
Robert WittmanRepublican · Virginia
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California