Child Care Workforce Development Act

(a) Authority. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may carry out a program of entering into contracts with eligible early childhood educators under which such educators agree to serve for a period of 5 years as early childhood educators with a qualified employer, in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to repay, for each year of such service, not more than $6,000 of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such educators.

(b) Recertification. An eligible early childhood educator seeking to continue to receive payments under this section shall submit on an annual basis to the Secretary such information as the Secretary may require to certify that the educator is continuing to meet the criteria to be considered an eligible early childhood educator.

(c) Maximum amount of loan. The total amount of payments received by an eligible early childhood educator under this section may not exceed the total amount of the principal and interest of the educational loans of such educator.

(d) Applicability of certain provisions. The following provisions of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established under section 338B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l) shall apply to the program established under this section in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program:

(1) Paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 338B(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(c); relating to application information, understandability, and availability).

(2) Section 338B(c)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(c)(4); relating to recruitment and retention).

(3) Section 338B(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(d); relating to factors considered in providing contracts).

(4) Section 338B(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(e); relating to the approval required for participation).

(5) Section 338B(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(f); relating to contents of contracts).

(6) Section 338B(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1(g); relating to payments, including repayment schedule and tax liability).

(e) Report to Congress. Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the implementation of this section.

(f) Definitions. In this section:

(1) The term eligible early childhood educator means an individual who—

(A) as of the date on which the agreement referred to in subsection (a)(1) is entered into—

(i) has outstanding Federal direct loans obtained for purposes of pursuing an associate’s degree, including a child development associate credential, a bachelor’s degree, a graduate degree, or a combined bachelor and master’s degree, in early childhood education or a related field from an accredited institution (including any such loan for which the individual is enrolled in an income-based repayment plan); and

(ii) is in good standing with respect to the loans referred to in clause (i); and

(B) agrees to—

(i) serve as an early childhood educator with a qualified employer for a period of not less than 5 years; and

(ii) make timely payments with respect to the loans described in subparagraph (A)(i).

(2) The term qualified employer means a childcare provider that receives or 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.).

(3) The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(g) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.