119th Congress

S.4628

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Introduced·5/21/26

Prefiled

Introduced5/21/26

Chamber Passed

Final Passage

Complete

Introduced

S. 4628

Introduced in Senate · June 9, 2026

May 21, 2026

Mr. Marshall (for himself, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) CHILDCARE.—

means any program that—

S4628 U.S. Senate: Federal SB4628 establishes an initiative…

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in selecting recipients of loans and grants under a program described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified applicant that proposes to use the loan or grant to address the availability, quality, or cost of childcare in a rural area.
(2) DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS.—The programs referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
1. (A) The essential community facilities loan and grant programs authorized under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)).
2. (B) The business and industry direct and guaranteed loan program authorized under section 310B(g) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)).
3. (C) The rural microentrepreneur assistance program authorized under section 379E of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s).
4. (D) The intermediary relending program authorized under section 310H of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1936b).
  1. (d) Requirement.—In providing funding in accordance with the Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits under the Initiative.
  2. (e) Evaluation; report.—
(1) EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out using assistance provided under the Initiative, including—
1. (A) a description of—
  1. (i) the types of projects carried out;
  2. (ii) the communities in which the projects are carried out;
  3. (iii) the organizations and entities participating in the projects; and
  4. (iv) the types of partnerships developed to carry out the projects; and
2. (B) the economic and social impacts of the investments in the projects.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), including a thorough analysis of the outcomes of the evaluation.

(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in selecting recipients of loans and grants under a program described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall give priority to any qualified applicant that proposes to use the loan or grant to address the availability, quality, or cost of childcare in a rural area.
(2) DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS.—The programs referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
1. (A) The essential community facilities loan and grant programs authorized under section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)).
2. (B) The business and industry direct and guaranteed loan program authorized under section 310B(g) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)).
3. (C) The rural microentrepreneur assistance program authorized under section 379E of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s).
4. (D) The intermediary relending program authorized under section 310H of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1936b).
  1. (d) Requirement.—In providing funding in accordance with the Initiative, the Secretary shall ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits under the Initiative.
  2. (e) Evaluation; report.—
(1) EVALUATION.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out using assistance provided under the Initiative, including—
1. (A) a description of—
  1. (i) the types of projects carried out;
  2. (ii) the communities in which the projects are carried out;
  3. (iii) the organizations and entities participating in the projects; and
  4. (iv) the types of partnerships developed to carry out the projects; and
2. (B) the economic and social impacts of the investments in the projects.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), including a thorough analysis of the outcomes of the evaluation.