H.R. 9993 – Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026

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Updated August 4, 2026 at 6:23 AM UTC

The Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026 aims to expand the availability and lower the cost of child care by guaranteeing services for people on state assistance and recent former recipients. It removes state funding caps and makes the federal commitment to child‑care funding flexible rather than fixed. The bill also boosts support for home‑based child‑care providers through a higher matching fund and requires a federal study of the program’s effects.

Key Provisions

Requires each state that receives federal child‑care funds to guarantee child‑care services for anyone currently receiving state assistance and for former recipients for up to 24 months after they leave the program.
Eliminates existing caps that limit how much state funding can be used for child‑care assistance, allowing states to use the full amount of their allotted funds.
Changes the entitlement from a fixed dollar amount to an open‑ended commitment, letting Congress provide whatever funding is needed each fiscal year to meet the guarantee.
Creates a higher federal matching rate—75%—for state expenditures that supplement wages and benefits of providers who operate home‑based child‑care programs.
Directs HHS to study the impact of the new home‑based provider matching rate, maintain a research portfolio, and report the findings to Congress each session, with $20 million authorized each year for the study.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

July 30, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 30, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

July 30, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 30, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9993

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 30, 2026

Ms. Moore of Wisconsin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To increase child care supply availability and affordability and invest in home based child care, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rise Up for Child Care Act of 2026.

2.

Child care entitlement

(a)

Replacement of requirement that portion of funds be used for certain populations, with child care guarantee

(1)

In general

Section 418(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 618(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Child care guarantee for certain populations

As a condition of receiving funds under this section, a State shall guarantee the provision of child care services to—

(A)

each recipient of assistance under the State program funded under this part or under a State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)); and

(B)

each individual who is a former recipient of assistance under such a program, for any portion of the 24-month period beginning with the date the individual left the program involved.

.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 418(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(c)) is amended by inserting except to the extent that such a requirement or limitation would interfere with the provision of child care services required by subsection (b)(2) before the period.

(b)

Elimination of State caps

Section 418(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by striking subparagraphs (B) and (D) and redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and

(B)

in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by striking the lesser of the State's allotment under subparagraph (B) or; and

(2)

in paragraph (5), by striking (2)(C) and inserting (2)(B).

(c)

Open-Ended entitlement

Section 418(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking Subject to the amount appropriated under paragraph (3), each and inserting Each; and

(2)

in paragraph (3), by striking $3,550,000,000 and all that follows and inserting such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each fiscal year..

(d)

Home-Based child care investments

(1)

Separate matching rate for expenditures to supplement wages and benefits for home-based child care providers

Section 418(a)(2)(B) of such Act, as so redesignated by subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, is amended by inserting , except that, with respect to the excess expenditures that are made to carry out a State plan to supplement the wages and benefits of persons working for a child care provider in a home-based child care setting, that percentage shall be 75 percent before the period.

(2)

Study

(A)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this paragraph referred to as the Secretary) shall direct the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families to study the effects of the amendment made by paragraph (1), and conduct research and maintain a research portfolio with respect to the effects.

(B)

Personnel involved

In employing and retaining career civil servants for the conduct and maintenance of the research portfolio, the Secretary shall give priority to persons with any of the following characteristics:

(i)

Prior work experience at the Department of Health and Human Services.

(ii)

Prior experience working on or evaluating discretionary grant programs.

(iii)

Prior experience administering Federal grants, child care programs, or means-tested public assistance programs.

(C)

Report to Congress

During each Congress, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the study required by subparagraph (A).

(D)

Funding

Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $20,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this paragraph.