To help decrease the nation’s police shortage, U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) on Wednesday introduced a bipartisan bill that would establish a grant pilot program to provide childcare services for the minor children of law enforcement officers so that they could work varying shift hours.
“I’m proud to support this bipartisan initiative to equip our officers with the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” Rep. Valadao said on April 19.
The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act of 2023, H.R. 2722, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), would authorize $24 million in funding for each of the next five fiscal years under the Child Care Development Grant Program and allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants of up to $3 million for opening childcare centers, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Valadao’s office.
“Police departments across the [Central] Valley have struggled to recruit and retain new officers, resulting in immense pressure on our existing police force and putting the safety of our communities at risk,” said Rep. Valadao. “The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act will make child care more accessible and affordable for our officers who typically work non-standard schedules, removing a barrier to entry and retention for working parents.”
If enacted, H.R. 2722 also would allow law enforcement agencies, local governments, and childcare providers to determine each of their responsibilities while requiring local entities to contribute a scaled matching requirement over a three-year grant period, according to the summary, and would set aside 20 percent of the total grant funding for police departments employing fewer than 200 officers, among other provisions.
“Access to quality, reliable child care is essential to recruitment and retention of the best, most representative, and diverse police force we can have, particularly as we seek to attract more women to the ranks,” Rep. Peters said.