Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026

The Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026 (H.R. 9993) amends Section 418 of the Social Security Act to expand federal child care funding. The bill requires states to guarantee child care for families currently or recently receiving public assistance, removes the cap on federal child care funding for states, increases federal funding for home-based child care worker pay, and funds an ongoing federal research study on these changes.

* **Current TANF recipients:** Families currently enrolled in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or equivalent state programs. * **Former TANF recipients:** Families who left TANF or equivalent state programs within the past 24 months. * **Home-based child care providers and staff:** Workers whose wages and benefits may be increased through federal-state matching funds. * **State governments:** State agencies that administer child care and public assistance programs. * **Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):** Specifically the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families, which must conduct research and report to Congress.

* **Mandatory Child Care Guarantee:** As a condition of receiving federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) entitlement funds, states **must** guarantee child care services to current TANF recipients and former TANF recipients for up to 24 months after leaving the program. * **Home-Based Child Care Match:** Sets a **75% federal matching rate** for state money spent specifically to boost the wages and benefits of staff working for home-based child care providers. * **HHS Research and Hiring Requirements:** HHS **must** maintain a research portfolio evaluating the effects of the 75% matching rate for home-based child care. When hiring career civil servants for this work, HHS **must** prioritize candidates with experience in HHS, evaluating grant programs, or managing child care and public assistance programs. * **Reporting Requirement:** HHS **must** submit a report on the study's results to Congress once during each two-year congressional term.

* **Open-Ended Funding for States:** Removes the fixed statutory cap on federal child care entitlement funding under Section 418 (which was previously capped at $3.55 billion per year) and shifts to an open-ended entitlement, appropriating **"such sums as are necessary"** each fiscal year. * **Matching Rate:** Establishes a 75% federal match for qualifying state spending on home-based child care worker compensation. * **Research Funding:** Mandates an appropriation of **$20 million for each fiscal year** from the U.S. Treasury for HHS to carry out the required research and study.

* **TANF Rules Overridden:** Existing rules or statutory limits under the TANF program do not apply if they prevent a state from meeting the mandatory child care guarantee. * **Time Limit on Former Recipients:** The child care guarantee for former TANF recipients applies only during the 24-month period after they leave the program. * **Targeted Match Spending:** The 75% federal matching rate applies strictly to state expenditures used to supplement home-based child care staff wages and benefits, rather than general child care costs.

This bill shifts federal child care entitlement funding from a fixed annual dollar cap to open-ended funding and requires states to provide guaranteed child care to current TANF families and former recipients for two years after leaving assistance. It also provides a 75% federal match for state spending aimed at raising pay for home-based child care workers, supported by $20 million in annual funding for HHS to study the impact.