Providing Child Care for Firefighters and EMS Act
Creates grants for child care programs serving emergency services personnel’s children during shift work and nontraditional hours.
In two House committees since Sept. 24, 2026, 14 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Emergency workers’ shifts can make it harder to match work schedules with child care hours. The bill would create competitive grants for child care programs serving emergency personnel’s minor children during nontraditional hours. It would also require local contributions, provider safeguards, oversight, and studies of the program.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Creates grants for emergency-worker child care
The Health and Human Services Secretary would award competitive grants to designated state, territorial, and Tribal lead agencies. Those agencies would pass funds to emergency medical services providers or consortia to establish or operate child care for emergency services personnel’s minor children during shift work and nontraditional hours.
- Allows several kinds of child care support
Funds could support startup costs, provider training, help with families’ child care costs, care for sick children or children with disabilities, extended hours, and facility construction or renovation. A lead agency could provide no more than $3,000,000 to any single applicant.
- Requires rising nonfederal contributions
Covered entities receiving funds would have to provide nonfederal contributions, directly or through donations, equal to at least 10 percent of their costs in the first funded fiscal year, 25 percent in the second, and 33⅔ percent in the third.
- Authorizes funding through fiscal year 2031
The bill authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. No more than $2,500,000 of the total for that period could be used for studies and program administration, and the program would end on September 30, 2031.
- Sets provider, oversight, and study requirements
Child care providers would have to meet specified federal child care, health, and safety requirements. Lead agencies would monitor funded activities, provide technical help, and require annual audits; the Secretary would study the program and report to Congress.
The bill states that its purpose is to help provide child care around emergency services personnel’s shift work and nontraditional hours, and to strengthen recruitment and retention. It would create a grant route for local and regional providers to build, operate, or adapt child care services for those schedules.
The program would rely on nonfederal contributions that increase over time, and it would end on a set date. Its required studies would examine service capacity, who uses the programs, and whether funded facilities remain open and meet child care needs.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Vindman with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Education and Workforce and Transportation and Infrastructure
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 24, 2026EDUCATION & WORKFORCE · TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 14 daysNo hearing yet
- 14 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 14, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Vindman’s record: sponsored 74 bills this Congress. 0 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Donald G. DavisD-NC-1ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
Get an alert when it changes stage, gets a floor vote in the House, or is signed into law.