[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5982. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of part II of subtitle F of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 558. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BEST PRACTICES GUIDE FOR 
                   FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     publish a Department-wide best practices guide for 
     individuals seeking to establish and operate a Family Child 
     Care home on a military installation.
       (b) Consultation Requirement.--In developing the guide 
     required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall 
     consult with military departments, military installations, 
     Family Child Care program administrators, and established 
     Family Child Care providers operating under successful Family 
     Child Care programs across the Department of Defense to 
     identify and incorporate best practices, lessons learned, and 
     approaches that have demonstrated success in expanding 
     participation and reducing barriers to establishing and 
     operating Family Child Care homes.
       (c) Required Elements.--The guide required under subsection 
     (a) shall include, at a minimum--
       (1) an overview of the process for becoming a certified 
     Family Child Care provider;
       (2) standardized information regarding training, 
     inspections, background checks, licensing, and certification 
     requirements;
       (3) guidance regarding available financial assistance, 
     startup support, subsidies, grants, and reimbursement 
     opportunities;
       (4) information on liability coverage, safety standards, 
     and emergency preparedness requirements;
       (5) recommendations for reducing administrative barriers to 
     establishing Family Child Care homes; and
       (6) any additional information the Secretary determines 
     appropriate to support prospective Family Child Care 
     providers.
       (d) Public Availability.--The Secretary shall make the 
     guide required under subsection (a) publicly available on an 
     internet website of the Department of Defense in a searchable 
     and accessible format for military families.
       (e) Service-specific Appendices.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall encourage 
     the Secretaries of the military departments to publish and 
     maintain service-specific appendices accompanying the guide 
     required under subsection (a).
       (2) Contents.--A service-specific appendix under paragraph 
     (1) may include--
       (A) service-specific policies or procedures;
       (B) installation-level best practices;
       (C) information regarding unique operational requirements 
     or child care demands within the military department 
     concerned;
       (D) guidance regarding military housing considerations 
     related to Family Child Care homes; and
       (E) points of contact and resources specific to the 
     military department concerned.
       (f) Briefing.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees 
     regarding--
       (1) actions taken to implement this section;
       (2) efforts to improve awareness of Family Child Care 
     opportunities among military spouses and families;
       (3) barriers identified in the establishment of Family 
     Child Care homes; and
       (4) recommendations for legislative or administrative 
     action to improve military child care capacity.
                                 ______