Office of Sen. Marshall
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Mike Braun (R-IA) on June 8 introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023 to improve the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. Each senator is a member of the Senate Ag Committee.
“Access to childcare is a top priority for both families and employers in every corner of Kansas,” Senator Marshall said. “With a few changes to the USDA’s Rural Development programs, which benefit our rural communities, we can build the necessary childcare infrastructure that puts our children on the right educational path and provides them with a strong foundation for the future.”
“Childcare is far too expensive and too hard to find for Ohio families, and parents in rural Ohio face unique challenges. Farm communities often lack enough transportation infrastructure and don’t have enough high-quality child-care providers, and rural parents are more likely to work non-traditional hours,” Senator Brown said. “These are commonsense, bipartisan steps to make childcare more affordable and accessible in rural communities."
“Access to childcare is essential, but for too many families living in rural places, it is out of reach,” Senator Smith said. “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive 50 miles to take their kids to childcare and from providers who are struggling to find and keep staff."
“When I’m traveling across Iowa I hear from employees and small business owners who want more childcare options in rural Iowa. Our efforts will empower childcare centers in our agriculture communities to invest in facility development and staff training opportunities to ensure quality childcare options are available to every family," Senator Ernst said.
Click HERE to read the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023.
Background:
The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities.
The bill would also allow USDA to make awards through intermediaries such as, childcare resource and referral organizations, staffed family childcare networks, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with demonstrated expertise in the childcare sector.