HR 5363

Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025

Summary

Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative to prioritize certain loans and grants that address childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Under the bill, childcare includes eligible programs that provide quality care and early education for young children who are in kindergarten or have not yet entered kindergarten. Under the initiative, USDA must give priority to applicants that propose to use certain loans or grants to address the availability, quality, or costs of childcare in an agricultural or rural community. In addition, USDA must prioritize communities in farming-dependent counties and ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits. USDA must conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out under the initiative and submit a report to Congress. 

Bill status

Status
In committee
Sponsor
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez [D-WA-3]
Cosponsors
5
Policy area
Agriculture and Food
Introduced
2025-09-15
Latest action
2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Committee referrals

Recent actions

  • 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
  • 2025-09-15: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
  • 2025-09-15: Introduced in House
  • 2025-09-15: Introduced in House