Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Childcare in Rural America

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jim Baird (R-IN-04), and Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) introduced the Expanding Childcare in Rural America (ECRA) Act, which would lower the cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities, while also improving its availability and quality.

"Young families in rural communities like mine are strapped for options when it comes to finding childcare and have to drive for hours before and after work to drop their kids off and pick them up," said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. "Where you live shouldn't dictate whether or not your kid has a place to spend the day while you're on the job, and our bipartisan bill would make it easier for working families in all of our communities to get the affordable childcare they need."

"Whether you live in a rural community, the suburbs, or a busy city, every mom and dad in America should have access to quality, affordable childcare while they're at work," said Rep. Underwood."The Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act will help families stay in the workforce, grow our local economy, and make sure that every child in Illinois gets the care that they deserve."

"As a father and grandfather, having children is one of the most important and fulfilling responsibilities in the world," said Congressman Baird. "However, families across Rural America have faced a staggering lack of access to childcare options as they work hard every day to feed and clothe our nation. I am proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation to improve Americans' access to quality childcare options for their children."

"Sadly, many Kansas parents in rural parts of our state who are trying to both raise a family and continue their careers are faced with a lack of accessible and affordable childcare options," said Rep. Mann. "Our bill shrinks the childcare desert in rural communities and ensures parents who want to work can do so while having resources to care for their children. This is a common sense, pro-family piece of legislation that rural America needs and I'm proud to support it."

The ECRA Act would direct U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities through the following programs:

• The Community Facilities Program offers direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America.
  
• Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant offers grants to eligible public bodies and private, nonprofit organizations (such as states, counties, cities, townships, incorporated towns, villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Tribes located on Federal or state reservations) to provide technical assistance and/or training in support of the essential community facilities program.
  
• The Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program provides loan guarantees to commercial lenders for loans to eligible rural businesses.
  
• The Rural Business Development Grant Program is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues.
  
• The Rural Innovation Strong Economy Grant Program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas.
  
• The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to provide microloans for microenterprise startups and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund; and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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