H.R. 7498 establishes a new federal grant program to help working parents find child care during nontraditional hours—including evenings, nights, weekends, and last-minute scheduling—so they can maintain employment and advance their careers. The bill creates a five-year pilot program through which the Department of Health and Human Services will award competitive grants between $25,000 and $500,000 to child care providers, businesses, and partnerships to expand or establish child care services for families working these unconventional schedules. Eligible recipients can use grant funds for staffing, facility improvements, curriculum development, quality improvements, and training on infant safety. The bill requires a 25 percent non-federal match and mandates that the Secretary report to Congress every two years on how many children are served, employment outcomes for their parents, and the program's impact on child care availability. Funding will come from existing child care development block grant appropriations through fiscal year 2031.
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