Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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 "Child Care Innovation Advancement Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. It establishes a "child care innovation nutrition pilot program" to help organized child care programs receive reimbursement for nutritious food. These programs can operate in various settings, such as commercial spaces, community centers, or houses of worship, rather than private homes. To be eligible, programs must be licensed or approved by their State and operate under a sponsoring organization. The pilot program includes strict accountability and audit requirements to protect taxpayer investments. The program is set to terminate five years after its establishment.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill facilitates access to nutritious meals for children in organized child care settings.
- Scored +5
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill provides reimbursements for nutritious food to organized child care programs, potentially lowering costs for providers and families.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill aims to increase the provision of nutritious meals to low-income children.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill establishes a new pilot program that requires new federal appropriations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Nutritious Food: Organized child care programs operating in non-private home settings, such as commercial spaces or community centers, may receive reimbursement for purchasing nutritious meals for children (Section 3(a)).
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Support for Innovative Child Care Solutions: The bill aims to assist innovative solutions like child care pods, multi-unit facilities, and employer-provided programs that have previously found Federal nutrition programs difficult to access (Section 2).
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Standardized Reimbursement Rates: Organized child care programs will be reimbursed at the same rate as family or group day care homes under similar Federal programs (Section 3(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Risk of Exclusion due to Audit Findings: An organized child care program that has an "unresolved audit finding" regarding unauthorized expenditures or unallowable costs is ineligible to receive funds for the first two fiscal years following the end of the one-year resolution period (Section 3(e)(2)(C)).
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Limited Duration of Support: An organized child care program can receive reimbursement under this pilot program for a maximum of three years (Section 3(c)).
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 facilitates access to nutritious meals for children in organized child care settings. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill aims to increase the provision of nutritious meals to low-income children. Would women be better off under this? — Increased child care supply can help alleviate childcare-related burdens often disproportionately faced by women.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill provides reimbursements for nutritious food to organized child care programs, potentially lowering costs for providers and families. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The program helps provide nutritious meals to more children, including those in low-income settings.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to increase child care supply by reducing barriers to entry for innovative providers. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill establishes a new pilot program that requires new federal appropriations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual certifications and reports to Congress regarding program integrity and exclusions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill increases the availability of nutrition-related resources for organized child care settings.
- Healthcare
- Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill indirectly supports child health through nutrition access.
- 6/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire