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H.R. 1589 109th Congress House

Balancing Act of 2005

Official title: To improve the lives of working families by providing family and medical need assistance, child care assistance, in-school and afterschool assistance, family c… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To improve the lives of working families by providing family and medical need assistance, child care assistance, in-school and afterschool assistance, family care assistance, and encouraging the establishment of family-friendly workplaces.

Introduced: July 19, 2005 See on congress.gov
Families Access to health careAccreditation (Education)Administrative procedureAdoption
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Agriculture and FoodAuditingAuthorizationBlock grantsBuilding constructionCaregiversChild care workersChild developmentChild healthChild nutritionClass sizeCommerceCommunity and schoolCommunity developmentCommunity organizationCompensatory educationCompetitionCongressCongressional reporting requirementsConstruction industriesConstruction workersContinuing educationContractorsCurriculaDay careDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDietDisability insuranceDisabledEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEducational accountabilityEducational planningElementary and secondary educationElementary educationEmployee benefit plansEmployee health benefitsEmployee trainingEnergyEnergy conservationEquipment and suppliesEvaluation research (Social action programs)ExerciseFamily day careFamily leaveFederal aid to IndiansFederal aid to child health servicesFederal aid to educationFederal employeesFederally-guaranteed loansFinance and Financial SectorFire preventionFood serviceFruitGeriatricsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment contractorsGovernment employees' health insuranceGovernment lendingGovernment ownershipGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGovernmental investigationsGrandparentsGrants-in-aidHealthHealth insuranceHigher educationHousing and Community DevelopmentIndian childrenInfantsInfrastructureInsurance premiumsIntergovernmental fiscal relationsLabor and EmploymentLawLeave of absenceLicensesMaintenance and repairMarried peopleMedicaidMedical economicsMedically uninsuredMinimum wagesMinoritiesMortgage banksMortgage guaranty insuranceMortgagesMothersNative AmericansNonprofit organizationsObesityParent-school relationshipsParentsPart-time employmentPension fundsPoor childrenPregnant womenPreschool educationRevolving fundsSafety appliancesSalariesScholarshipsSchool lunch programSchool-age child careSecondary educationSecondary mortgage marketSick leaveSocial WelfareSolar energySports and RecreationStocksStudent activitiesTax-exempt organizationsTaxationTeacher educationTeacher salariesTeacher supply and demandTeaching materialsTelecommutingTemporary employmentTransportation and Public WorksUnemployment insuranceVegetablesWagesWomenYouth services
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 6, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
Apr 29, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
Apr 29, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
Apr 29, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Apr 29, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Apr 13, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Government Reform, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 13, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 6, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Family and Workplace Balancing Act of 2005 - Balancing Act of 2005 - Provides assistance for working families through: (1) family and medical care leave; (2) expanded child care for young children and incentives for child care providers; (3) preschool, in-school, and afterschool nutrition and education; (4) temporary and part-time workers pension and health plan benefits; and (5) encouragement of business use of employee telecommuting.

Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to make five-year grants to a State or local government to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out projects that assist families by providing wage replacement for eligible individuals responding to caregiving needs resulting from the birth or adoption of a son or daughter or other family caregiving needs.

Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to allow employees covered by FMLA to take up to four hours during any 30-day period, and up to 24 hours during any 12-month period, of parental involvement leave to participate in or attend their children's or grandchildren's educational and extracurricular activities. Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same parental involvement leave allowance to Federal employees.

Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize additional funds for expanding child care activities for young children less than three years of age.

Establishes: (1) the Child Care Provider Development and Retention Grant Program; and (2) the Child Care Provider Scholarship Program.

Healthy Early Education Workforce Grant Program Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allot funds to eligible States (and Indian tribes and tribal organizations) to pay for the Federal share of the cost of providing access to affordable health benefits coverage for: (1) eligible child care providers; and (2) at State option, the spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of such providers.

Child Care Construction and Renovation Incentive Grants Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to provide for use of community development block grants to establish child care facilities. Amends the National Housing Act to provide for insurance for mortgages: (1) on new and rehabilitated child care facilities; and (2) for acquisition of or the refinancing of debt on existing child care facilities. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make technical and financial assistance grants to acquire or improve child care facilities or equipment.

Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a business child care incentive grant program.

Universal Prekindergarten Act - Directs the Secretary of HHS to make grants to State agencies to develop full-day, full-year universal prekindergarten programs for all children three, four, and five years old.

Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a universal free school breakfast program without regard to family incomes.

Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of healthy school nutrition environment incentive grants.

Afterschool Education Enhancement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require State educational agencies to give priority to 21st century community learning centers program applications submitted jointly by eligible entities.

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for treatment of employees working at less than full-time under participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans and under group health plans.

United States Business Telework Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct, in not more than five States, a pilot program to raise awareness about telework among employers, and encourage them to offer telework options to employees.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 9
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1589: Balancing Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1589/
MLA
"H.R. 1589: Balancing Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1589/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1589, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1589/.
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[H.R. 1589: Balancing Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1589/)
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