119-s310

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 310 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 310

 To establish a grant program to address the crises in accessing 
 affordable housing and child care through the co-location of housing 
 and child care, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 29, 2025

 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Padilla, Ms. 
Hirono, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which 
 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
 Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish a grant program to address the crises in accessing 
 affordable housing and child care through the co-location of housing 
 and child care, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Build Housing with Care Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

 The purpose of this Act is to expand access to affordable housing 
and child care through the establishment of a grant program to promote 
the co-location of housing and child care providers.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
 ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
 Affairs of the Senate;
        (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
 Pensions of the Senate;
            (C) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
 House of Representatives; and
            (D) the Committee on Education and the Workforce of 
 the House of Representatives.

    (2) Caregiver; eligible child care provider.--The terms 
 ``caregiver'' and ``eligible child care provider'' have the 
 meanings given those terms in 

section 658P of the Child Care 
 and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

    (3) Child care desert.--The term ``child care desert'' 
 means--
        (A) a census tract that contains not less than 3 
 times more children than the licensed child care 
 providers in the census tract have the capacity to care 
 for; or
        (B) a census tract where there are no licensed 
 child care providers.

    (4) Co-location facility.--The term ``co-location 
 facility'' means a housing facility that contains an eligible 
 child care provider within the facility, on the premises of the 
 facility, or nearby the facility, where such provider serves 
 the residents of the housing facility.

    (5) Community development financial institution.--The term 
 ``community development financial institution'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 103 of the Community Development 
 Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 
 4702).

    (6) Community development corporation.--The term 
 ``community development corporation'' has the same meaning as 
 when used in the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.).

    (7) Community housing development organization.--The term 
 ``community housing development organization'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
 Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704).

    (8) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
        (A) a community development financial institution;
        (B) an eligible child care provider;
            (C) a public housing authority;
            (D) a government entity, including a public housing 
 agency;
        (E) an Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization;
        (F) a community development corporation;
        (G) a housing developer using--
            (i) low-income housing tax credits under 
 

section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
 1986; or
            (ii) new markets tax credits under 

section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
        (H) a nonprofit organization that develops housing;
            (I) a community housing development organization;
        (J) a consortia of 2 or more entities described in 
 this paragraph; or
        (K) another entity identified as appropriate by the 
 Secretary.

    (9) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms ``Indian 
 Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization''--
        (A) have the meanings given those terms in 

section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
 Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); and
        (B) include--
            (i) tribally designated housing entities; 
 and
            (ii) entities that serve Native Hawaiians, 
 as defined in 

section 338K
            (c) of the Public 
 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254s
            (c) ).

    (10) Low-income family; public housing agency; very low-
 income family.--The terms ``low-income family'', ``public 
 housing agency'', and ``very low-income family'' have the 
 meanings given those terms in 

section 3

    (b) of the United States 
 Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a

    (b) ).

    (11) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the program 
 established under 

section 4

    (b) .

    (12) Public housing dwelling unit.--The term ``public 
 housing dwelling unit'' means a dwelling unit in public 
 housing, as defined in 

section 3

    (b) of the United States 
 Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a

    (b) ).

    (13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Housing and Urban Development.

    (14) Tribally designated housing entity.--The term 
 ``tribally designated housing entity'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance 
 and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).

SEC. 4. HOUSING AND CHILD CARE PROVIDER CO-LOCATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to 
facilitate the design, planning, construction, conversion, 
retrofitting, preservation, or renovation of a co-location facility.

    (b) Consultation.--In developing the Program, the Secretary shall 
consult with--

    (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
 through the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for 
 Children and Families;

    (2) the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the 
 Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions 
 Fund; and

    (3) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Under 
 Secretary for Rural Development.
            (c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the 
Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary determines appropriate, including the 
following:

    (1) A certification that the eligible child care provider 
 associated with the application is eligible to receive vouchers 
 or assistance under the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
 Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.), or in the case of an 
 application to construct a new facility, or an application when 
 the eligible entity intends to subgrant or capitalize amounts 
 provided, a commitment to--
        (A) establish a partnership with an eligible child 
 care provider not later than 1 year after the date on 
 which funding is received;
        (B) submit to the Secretary a certification of the 
 eligibility of the provider to receive vouchers or 
 assistance under the Child Care and Development Block 
 Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.); and
            (C) in the case of an application to construct a 
 new facility, or an application when the eligible 
 entity intends to subgrant or capitalize amounts 
 provided--
            (i) clearly establish a project pipeline; 
 and
            (ii) certify that a child care provider 
 associated with a co-location facility project 
 receives vouchers or assistance under the Child 
 Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et seq.) or the Head Start Act 
 of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).

    (2) A certification that activities funded by grant amounts 
 will not result in the eviction of residents of the housing 
 facility associated with the application.

    (3) A description of a plan to inform and engage with 
 residents of the housing facility associated with the 
 application about the proposed use of grant amounts.

    (4) A certification of compliance with required Federal, 
 State, and local environmental laws and State and local land 
 use policies, unless the eligible entity--
        (A) intends to use grant amounts to facilitate the 
 planning or design required for permit approval; or
        (B) demonstrates that the construction, 
 preservation, conversion, retrofitting, or renovation 
 of an existing facility does not require environmental 
 review.

    (5) A business plan for the eligible child care provider 
 associated with the application, submitted at the time of 
 application or not later than 1 year after the date on which 
 the application is submitted, including--
        (A) a budget or, in the case of a new eligible 
 child care provider, a proposed budget;
        (B) appropriate State and local licensing or, in 
 the case of a new eligible child care provider, a copy 
 of the application of the provider for appropriate 
 State and local licensing; and
            (C) copies of contracts between the provider and a 
 local, county, regional, State, or Federal governmental 
 entity, to facilitate--
            (i) the business operations of the 
 provider; or
            (ii) the enrollment of children from low-
 income families with the provider.
            (d) Awarding of Grants.--

    (1) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the 
 Secretary shall give priority to each eligible entity that 
 demonstrates that the eligible child care provider associated 
 with the application of the entity will--
        (A) operate in a child care desert, a low-income 
 community, or a rural area as determined by the 
 Secretary;
        (B) certify designation as a Head Start provider, 
 an Early Head Start Provider, a Migrant and Seasonal 
 Head Start Provider, or an American Indian and Alaska 
 Native Head Start Provider, or enroll at least 10 
 percent of children from very low-income families; or
            (C) demonstrate a partnership with a community 
 development financial institution, including through 
 the provision of financial or technical assistance.

    (2) Grant amounts.--An eligible entity may be awarded not 
 more than $10,000,000 under the Program.

    (e) Use of Amounts.--

    (1) Eligible uses.--An eligible entity may only use grant 
 amounts provided under the Program to facilitate the design, 
 planning, construction, acquisition, preservation, conversion, 
 retrofitting, long-term leasing, or renovation of a new or 
 existing co-location facility.

    (2) Distribution.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
 under the Program may distribute grant amounts to a government 
 entity, a nonprofit organization that develops housing, a 
 public housing agency, a tribally designated housing entity, or 
 other appropriate entity as determined by the Secretary, to 
 carry out activities in accordance with this section.

    (3) Finance products.--A community development financial 
 institution receiving a grant under the Program may capitalize 
 amounts received to create financial products, including loans, 
 to carry out activities in accordance with this section.

    (4) Pre-development and technical assistance.--An eligible 
 entity may use--
        (A) not more than 10 percent of amounts awarded 
 under this section to facilitate the pre-development 
 phase of a new facility, including planning and design; 
 and
        (B) not more than 10 percent of amounts awarded 
 under this section to partner with a community 
 development financial institution that provides 
 technical assistance and capacity building to help the 
 eligible entity--
            (i) submit applications to the Program;
            (ii) support an eligible child care 
 provider that is home-based with meeting 
 relevant State and local licensing and quality 
 standards; and
            (iii) conduct pre-development activities.

    (f) Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical assistance 
and publish best practices online to facilitate the operation of co-
location facilities.

    (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the duration of 
the Program, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report regarding the implementation of the 
Program, including--

    (1) the number of grants awarded;

    (2) a description of the activities funded;

    (3) the number of child care slots created, including the 
 number of child care slots serving children from low-income 
 families or children who are dual language learners;

    (4) the number of child care slots preserved that were at 
 risk of elimination due to a child care center closing or 
 proposed price increases;

    (5) the number and percentage of residents in a co-location 
 facility that use or are employed by the associated child care 
 program;

    (6) the number of staff employed by the child care 
 provider;

    (7) demographic data of residents of housing facilities 
 associated with the Program;

    (8) the number and type of projects facilitated through 
 eligible uses of amounts described in paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) of 
 subsection

    (e) ;

    (9) the number of early childhood providers supported with 
 funds from the Program; and

    (10) the number of eligible entities of each type that 
 receive grant funding under the Program.

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2031.

SEC. 5. GAO STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING CHILD CARE ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS 
 OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
availability and affordability of child care for residents of public 
housing dwelling units, which shall include the following:

    (1) A description of how amounts from the following 
 programs have been used by eligible child care providers to 
 establish, renovate, or improve facilities:
        (A) The community development block grant program 
 under title I of the Housing and Community Development 
 Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
        (B) New markets tax credits under 

section 45D of 
 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (C) The Community Development Financial 
 Institutions Fund established under 

section 104

    (a) of 
 the Community Development Banking and Financial 
 Institutions Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 4703

    (a) ).
            (D) Low-income housing tax credits under 

section 42 
 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
        (E) Capital Magnet Fund funds under 

section 1339 of 
 the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and 
 Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4569).
        (F) HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds 
 under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
 Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.).

    (2) An evaluation of the effects of housing and child care 
 costs on the economic outlook of residents of public housing 
 dwelling units.

    (3) An evaluation of what percentage of residents of public 
 housing dwelling units are both--
        (A) cost-burdened, as defined by the Secretary; and
        (B) part of a household where not less than 7 
 percent of the income of the household is spent on 
 child care.

    (4) Identification and analysis of State or local laws that 
 are barriers to building or maintaining a facility for use by 
 eligible child care providers within or near a public housing 
 dwelling unit.

    (5) An assessment of how housing assistance provided under 
 the program for rental assistance under 

section 8 of the United 
 States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) affects the 
 ability of residents of public housing dwelling units to afford 
 child care and other essential expenses, including--
        (A) food;
        (B) telecommunications services and equipment such 
 as broadband internet connectivity and cellular phones; 
 and
            (C) means of transportation such as automobiles, 
 bicycles, or public transportation.

    (6) An evaluation of the efficacy of the child and 
 dependent care tax credit under 

section 21 of the Internal 
 Revenue Code of 1986, the earned income tax credit under 
 

section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the child tax 
 credit under 

section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
 and dependent care flexible spending arrangements for residents 
 of public housing dwelling units, including--
        (A) the degree of public knowledge about such 
 programs;
        (B) the degree of success of outreach or public 
 education programs regarding such programs; and
            (C) an assessment of the sufficiency of each 
 program to cover the costs of child care.

    (7) An evaluation of the extent that residents of public 
 housing dwelling units receive information regarding child care 
 resources from Federal agencies or public housing agencies.

    (8) Recommendations to improve access to child care within 
 and near public housing dwelling units and to improve awareness 
 of the availability of Federal programs to assist with the 
 costs of housing and child care.
 <all>