Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
applauded the Senate’s passing of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 on Monday.
The legislation, which will require federally subsidized child care providers to conduct criminal background checks and pass annual inspections, was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Wednesday.
Harkin and Alexander are chairman and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Mikulski and Burr are the former chairwoman and ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families.
The law has been due for reauthorization since 2002.
“After years of hard work with Sen. Mikulski, I am pleased that the Senate has passed this bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation that will foster the development of children across this nation,” Burr said. “This legislation promotes transparency so parents can be well-informed consumers of child care while ensuring federal dollars will no longer go to child care providers who have been convicted of violent crimes. I am proud to have played a part in this major achievement in helping children and their hardworking families.”
The bill requires child care providers to meet certain health and safety requirements relating to the prevention and control of disease, first aid and CPR, child abuse prevention, administration of medication, prevention of and response to emergencies due to food allergies, prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome, building and physical premises safety, and emergency response planning.