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S 4383 116th Congress Senate Transportation and Public Works Administrative law and regulatory procedures Child care and development Department of Commerce Economic development Employment and training programs Government lending and loan guarantees

ACCESS Act

Introduced: July 30, 2020 Introduced by: Ernst, Joni Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Jul 30, 2020
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Affordable Child Care for Economic Strategies and Success Act or the ACCESS Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide grants for public works and economic development projects that will directly or indirectly increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care, including grants for planning, and training, research, and technical assistance related to such projects.

Commerce must issue regulations to establish criteria for whether a project directly or indirectly increases the accessibility of affordable, quality child care. Such criteria shall consider (1) the availability, validity, and accessibility of timely data, (2) the extent to which a project contributes to a family's financial security, and (3) the extent to which a project addresses child care needs in child care deserts or areas otherwise recognized as experiencing a shortage. A child care desert is an area in which the number of children who are under age five is more than three times the number of slots provided by child care providers who are licensed or registered by the state involved, or a community that the state or tribal entity involved determines has a low supply of quality, affordable child care.

Commerce must also issue guidance on how to include the accessibility of affordable, quality child care in a comprehensive economic development strategy.

What's happening now July 30, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1