Sec. 1. Short title; findings
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This Act may be cited as the . Child Care is Infrastructure Act Congress makes the following findings: Early care and learning settings directly impact the physical, behavioral, and cognitive development of young children, and these settings should be designed and equipped to keep children safe and help children thrive. An investigation in 10 States conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services found that 96 percent of early care and learning facilities inspected during unannounced visits had at least 1 potentially hazardous condition.
Approximately 500,000 early care and learning facilities are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300f ), and only 11 States and New York City require licensed early care and learning facilities to test drinking water within such facilities for lead. A Department of Health and Human Services report from 2015 found that an estimated 2,201 Head Start centers needed facility improvements, including improvements related to rebuilding, renovating, and conducting maintenance on such facilities.
Only 2 statewide needs assessments have been conducted: A 2011 statewide study of Massachusetts early care and learning facilities found excessive levels of carbon dioxide in early care and learning facilities throughout the State, insufficient ventilation systems, and furnishings containing formaldehyde. A 2014 statewide study in Rhode Island found that— all centers visited had at least one playground safety hazard; centers in poor condition tend to serve higher rates of low-income, State-subsidized children; and nearly 70 percent of early learning centers visited had one or more issues related to the overall building condition, such as water stains, excessive wear, and peeling paint.
The National Children’s Facilities Network estimates that the United States would require at least $17 billion to bring existing early care and learning facilities up to best-practice standards. While data on the condition of facilities is available for 2 States, it is lacking elsewhere. The extent of the problem is impossible to determine without a nationwide assessment of the current condition of existing early care and learning facilities.
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Sec. 1
Short title; findings
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