S. 4628: A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes.
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2026-05-21 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] |
| Policy area | Agriculture and Food |
| Cosponsors | 3 |
| Latest action | 2026-05-21 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2026-05-21):
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative to prioritize certain loans and grants that address childcare in rural areas. Under the bill, childcare includes eligible programs that provide quality care and early education for children who have not yet entered first grade.
Under the initiative, USDA must give priority to applicants that propose to use certain loans or grants to address the availability, quality, or costs of childcare in rural areas. In addition, USDA must ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits.
USDA must conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out under the initiative and submit a report to Congress.
Cosponsors (3)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Tina Smith | D MN (original cosponsor) 2026-05-21 |
| Margaret Wood Hassan | D NH (original cosponsor) 2026-05-21 |
| Joni Ernst | R IA (original cosponsor) 2026-05-21 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 4628 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
View S. 4628 on congress.gov →
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 4628?
S. 4628 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an initiative to address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in rural areas, and for other purposes..
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 4628 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).