“A bill to establish a pilot program to expand early child care options for members of the Armed Forces and their families.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a pilot program under which the Secretary of Defense directs the Secretaries of the military departments to enter into 12 partnerships with eligible child care providers, or networks of such providers, at different military installations—including at least one each at a Navy (non-Marine Corps), Marine Corps, Army, Air Force (non-Space Force), Space Force, and joint installation—to increase early child care slots, facilitate employee recruitment and retention (including military spouses), and provide professional development opportunities for members of the Armed Forces and their families. The section authorizes the Secretaries of the military departments to identify child care gaps, use Department resources (including financial incentives) for recruitment and retention, pursue interagency partnerships for national service volunteers at military child development centers (i.e., DoD-operated facilities providing child care services on or near installations), and provide training and resource subsidies to participating providers. Participating providers must assure no reduction in slots for nonmilitary families or new facility construction, with documentation required 150 days after partnership establishment and every 180 days thereafter. The Secretary must assess compliance every 180 days (beginning 180 days after pilot commencement), notify noncompliant providers of a 90-day cure period, and terminate partnerships for uncured violations.