This legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 120 days of its enactment. The report is tasked with assessing significant workforce, readiness, and policy challenges impacting military child care and military child development centers, with a focus on improving support for military families. It requires an analysis of the current child care workforce, including the percentage of military spouses employed, and a feasibility assessment for increasing the transferability of their licenses and certifications. The report must also evaluate vacancy rates, the number of additional children that could be served if centers were fully staffed, and the potential for military spouses in on-post housing to provide supervised childcare. Finally, the bill mandates recommendations for incentives such as professional development, stipends, and flexible scheduling to attract and retain military spouses in the child care workforce.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Military Spouse Employment and Child Care Readiness Act
USA119th CongressHR-9848| House
| Updated: 7/22/2026
This legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 120 days of its enactment. The report is tasked with assessing significant workforce, readiness, and policy challenges impacting military child care and military child development centers, with a focus on improving support for military families. It requires an analysis of the current child care workforce, including the percentage of military spouses employed, and a feasibility assessment for increasing the transferability of their licenses and certifications. The report must also evaluate vacancy rates, the number of additional children that could be served if centers were fully staffed, and the potential for military spouses in on-post housing to provide supervised childcare. Finally, the bill mandates recommendations for incentives such as professional development, stipends, and flexible scheduling to attract and retain military spouses in the child care workforce.