Bipartisan, bicameral legislation led on April 16 by U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) would address the challenges of providing child care opportunities for America’s military families.
“As our service members balance dedication to their families with serving our country, access to child care options shouldn’t be an additional barrier,” Sen. Ernst said. “As a mother and grandmother who served in uniform, I understand all too well the unique challenges military families face.”
Rep. Kiggans and Sen. Ernst sponsored the Helping Ensure Reliable Opportunities (HERO) in Child Care for Military Families Act, H.R. 8336/S. 4335, alongside lead original cosponsors U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
The bill aims to increase hiring flexibility at child development centers and would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to assess how childcare availability impacts military readiness.
“Ensuring our service members have access to reliable, high-quality childcare for their families is essential to their well-being and directly tied to military readiness,” Rep. Kiggans said. “The HERO Act takes meaningful steps to address staffing shortages, reduce waitlists, and strengthen the support systems military families depend on every day.”
If enacted, the bill would establish a DOD-wide Childcare Readiness Data System, which would track staffing levels, capacity, vacancies, turnover, compensation ranges, and waitlists by installation and region.
Also under the bill, a report on child development center waitlists would be required, as well as a plan to improve waitlist accuracy, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The measure also would modernize hiring and staffing processes, and authorize partnerships with national service volunteers trained in education services, the summary says.
“My HERO Child Care for Military Families Act provides common-sense, bipartisan solutions to cut through the red tape, better understand the shortages, and reduce hiring delays so our military families have the support they need in every season of life,” added Sen. Ernst.