A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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 eligible entities. The goal is to improve child care access for parents working nontraditional hours, such as evenings, nights, or weekends. Grants can fund the expansion of existing programs, the creation of onsite workplace programs, or the establishment of new child care programs. These grants are awarded for a five-year period and must include a 25 percent non-federal cost match. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for these activities from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +3
Would children be better off under this?
The bill improves child care quality and safety through specialized training and improved facilities.
- Scored +3
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill increases child care access and capacity for parents working nontraditional hours through competitive grants.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased child care capacity can help low-income working parents maintain employment and progress in their careers.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $10,000,000 in new federal spending for the Child Care and Development Innovation Fund.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Child Care Access: The bill seeks to improve access for parents working outside of traditional 9 to 5 hours, such as those on evening, night, or weekend shifts (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Workforce Stability and Growth: By addressing the needs of working parents with young children, the act intends to help parents stay attached to the workforce, qualify for promotions and salary increases, and build savings (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Expanded Program Capacity: Grants can be used to expand the capacity of existing child care programs, including those run by family child care providers (Section 2(c)(1)(A)).
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Workplace Child Care Solutions: The act allows for the establishment or expansion of onsite child care programs at workplaces to serve families (Section 2(c)(1)(D) and Section 2(c)(1)(E)).
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Improved Program Quality and Safety: Funds can be used for staffing, improving facilities and equipment, establishing curriculum, and providing training in safe sleep practices and the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (Section 2(f)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on Grant Recipients: Entities receiving a grant are required to provide a non-Federal share of the cost amounting to 25 percent (Section 2(g)).
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Lack of Long-term Funding Certainty: While grants are awarded for a period of 5 years, they may not be renewed (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 improves child care quality and safety through specialized training and improved facilities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased child care capacity can help low-income working parents maintain employment and progress in their careers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides support for parents working nontraditional hours to help them amass savings and attain salary increases. Would women be better off under this? — Expanding child care access helps women, who often perform a disproportionate amount of caregiving, stay attached to the workforce.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill increases child care access and capacity for parents working nontraditional hours through competitive grants.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill helps parents stay attached to the workforce, which supports overall employment stability. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $10,000,000 in new federal spending for the Child Care and Development Innovation Fund.
- 2/11/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina