Bill > S4628

This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an "Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative" to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of childcare in rural areas. The initiative will prioritize funding from existing loan and grant programs, such as those for essential community facilities, business and industry, rural microentrepreneur assistance, and intermediary relending, to qualified applicants who propose to use the funds for childcare-related projects. The bill defines "childcare" broadly to include programs providing early education and care for young children, operated by licensed or regulated providers, and also encompasses school-based programs, Head Start programs, and facilities used for these purposes. The Secretary must ensure that the benefits of the initiative are geographically balanced and will be required to conduct an evaluation of the projects and report on their impacts to Congress.