Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025

HR 581, the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025, provides $100 million in federal funding (2025-2031) to address childcare shortages in underserved areas called "child care deserts." It authorizes competitive grants to states and tribal entities for two purposes: (1) workforce grants to help child care providers earn portable credentials and improve retention through training and support, and (2) facility grants to construct, expand, or renovate childcare centers and family child care homes. These grants require states to detail how projects will increase affordable, accessible childcare during nontraditional hours in targeted areas. The bill mandates that funds supplement, not replace, existing federal workforce and childcare programs.