Child Care Infrastructure Act

HR 9811, the Child Care Infrastructure Act, provides $10 billion in federal funding to improve child care facilities across the U.S. It requires the government to conduct immediate and long-term assessments of facility conditions, prioritizing pandemic-impacted centers serving low-income families, infants/toddlers, rural communities, and non-traditional-hour programs. The bill funds grants for states to renovate, build, or improve facilities (up to $35 million per state annually) and awards grants to intermediary organizations like community development groups to support financing and technical assistance. These grants must be used to address specific needs identified in the assessments, with labor standards requiring prevailing wage rates for construction work. The funding is authorized for fiscal years 2025-2029, with 3% reserved for tribal nations and territories.