A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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
This bill, known as the ``Rural Child Care Facility Expansion Act'', aims to create a low-interest loan program. The program is designed to support the renovation, expansion, and adaptation of buildings to increase child care availability in rural communities. These loans are intended for "covered child care providers" to help address "child care deserts." The Secretary of Agriculture oversees the program and the administration of the loans. This initiative begins one year after the Act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill provides specific financial support to expand essential child care services in rural communities.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill increases the availability of child care services for children in rural areas.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill specifically targets rural communities to improve their infrastructure through child care facility expansion.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Child Care Availability: The program provides loans to facilitate the renovation, retrofits, expansion, and adaptation of structures to increase the availability of child care services in rural communities. (Section 2(a) and Section 2(f)(1))
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Support for Rural Communities: The bill specifically targets "child care deserts," which are areas where the number of children is at least three times the number of available child care slots, or where no licensed providers exist. (Section 2(b)(2) and Section 2(e)(2))
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Financial Assistance for Providers: "Covered child care providers" can access low-interest loans, which are defined as a rate equal to the Treasury constant maturity rate plus 1/8 of 1 percent. (Section 2(b)(1) and Section 2(b)(4))
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Flexibility for Planning: Entities can use up to 10 percent of their loan to cover pre-development activities, such as planning and design for new facilities. (Section 2(f)(2))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Funding Use: An entity is restricted from using more than 10 percent of a loan for any pre-development activities, including planning and design. (Section 2(f)(2))
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Loan Repayment Obligations: Recipients of the loans must follow a repayment schedule established by the Secretary. (Section 2(g)(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 people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides specific financial support to expand essential child care services in rural communities. Would children be better off under this? — The bill increases the availability of child care services for children in rural areas. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill aims to increase child care slots which may include serving low-income families.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides low-interest loans to help child care providers fund facility renovations and expansions. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds the expansion of child care facilities which can lead to increased staffing levels for providers.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically targets rural communities to improve their infrastructure through child care facility expansion.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — By increasing the number of child care slots in underserved areas, the bill helps address childcare deserts.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The bill supports pre-school and pre-kindergarten educational programs through facility expansion.
- 5/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut
Mariannette Miller-MeeksRepublican · Iowa
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Eric SorensenDemocrat · Illinois