Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026

Section 418(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 618(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

As a condition of receiving funds under this section, a State shall guarantee the provision of child care services to—

(A) each recipient of assistance under the State program funded under this part or under a State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)); and

(B) each individual who is a former recipient of assistance under such a program, for any portion of the 24-month period beginning with the date the individual left the program involved.

Section 418(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(c)) is amended by inserting except to the extent that such a requirement or limitation would interfere with the provision of child care services required by subsection (b)(2) before the period.

Section 418(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)—

(A) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (D) and redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and

(B) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by striking the lesser of the State's allotment under subparagraph (B) or; and

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking (2)(C) and inserting (2)(B).

Section 418(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking Subject to the amount appropriated under paragraph (3), each and inserting Each; and

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking $3,550,000,000 and all that follows and inserting such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each fiscal year..

Section 418(a)(2)(B) of such Act, as so redesignated by subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, is amended by inserting, except that, with respect to the excess expenditures that are made to carry out a State plan to supplement the wages and benefits of persons working for a child care provider in a home-based child care setting, that percentage shall be 75 percent before the period.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this paragraph referred to as the Secretary) shall direct the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families to study the effects of the amendment made by paragraph (1), and conduct research and maintain a research portfolio with respect to the effects.

In employing and retaining career civil servants for the conduct and maintenance of the research portfolio, the Secretary shall give priority to persons with any of the following characteristics:

(i) Prior work experience at the Department of Health and Human Services.

(ii) Prior experience working on or evaluating discretionary grant programs.

(iii) Prior experience administering Federal grants, child care programs, or means-tested public assistance programs.

During each Congress, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the study required by subparagraph (A).

Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $20,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this paragraph.