#aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #giji ,,an ,,act ,to facilitate access to child care services safely and securely during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ensuring ,children and ,child ,care ,workers ,are ,safe ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,child care is an essential service that supports children's early development and allows parents to work4 7#b7 ,at least #a out of #b child care providers closed at some point during the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 and #b out of #e face the possibility of permanent closure4 7#c7 ,the lack of access to child care services can prevent parents from returning to work and can prevent children from accessing critical services1 including meals4 7#d7 ,ensuring the safe re-opening and operation of child care service settings during periods of community transmission of ,,covid-#ai will require child care providers to adopt new measures and practices in order to reduce the likelihood of ,,covid-#ai transmission4 7#e7 ,such measures and practices must ensure the safety of children as well as child care workers1 who may be at high risk of infection4 7#f7 ,ensuring that working families have access to safe child care service options is critical to supporting young children's development and to returning the economy back to its pre-pandemic levels4 #c4 ,technical assistance on the safe provision of child care services 7a7 ,technical ,assistance to ,states 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary71 in consultation with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall provide technical assistance to ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 and tribal organizations related to the safe provision of child care services while there is community transmission of ,,covid-#ai4 ,such technical assistance shall include information about-- 7,a7 the prevention of ,,covid-#ai transmission in child care provider settings1 including the use of face masks and other personal protective equipment in such settings2 7,b7 training and professional development on health and safety practices related to the prevention of ,,covid-#ai transmission in child care provider settings2 7,c7 the acquisition and use of personal protective equipment2 and 7,d7 modifications of child care provider settings and services to prevent ,,covid-#ai transmission1 such as optimal staff-to-child ratios across such settings and the use of mental health supports4 7#b7 ,materials ,as part of such technical assistance efforts1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 publish educational materials related to the prevention of ,,covid-#ai transmission in child care provider settings1 including by posting such materials on a website2 7,b7 update any such materials as necessary to reflect advancements in the science of ,,covid-#ai2 and 7,c7 provide a mechanism through which ,states may exchange best practices relating to the safe operation of child care providers4 7b7 ,technical ,assistance to ,child ,care ,providers 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may make grants to lead agencies designated under section #feh;,d7a7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;b7a77 to provide guidance1 technical assistance1 and support to child care providers1 either directly or through resource and referral agencies or staffed family child care networks1 regarding the safe operation of child care providers while there is community transmission of ,,covid-#ai4 7#b7 ,reservation ,the ,secretary shall reserve #b4ge percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section to make payments to ,indian ,tribes1 ,tribal organizations1 or consortia of ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7#c7 ,allotments ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this section and not reserved under paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall allot to ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,virgin ,islands of the ,united ,states1 and the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands and to the remaining ,states amounts in accordance with subsections 7a77#a7 and subsection 7b7 of section #feh,o of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehm71 except that none of such remaining ,states shall receive an allotment of less than #aj1jjj4 7#d7 ,requirements ,each lead agency that receives a grant under this section shall ensure that-- 7,a7 guidance1 technical assistance1 and support are available to child care providers regardless of such providers' settings1 sizes1 or administrative capacities2 and 7,b7 guidance1 technical assistance1 and support are available in the languages most commonly spoken in the ,state1 ,indian ,tribe1 or ,tribal organization4 7c7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #fj days after funds are appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall provide to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives and to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate a report that includes-- 7#a7 recommendations for how to ensure the safe provision of child care services while there is community transmission of ,,covid-#ai1 including recommendations that address each of the issues described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of subsection 7a77#a72 7#b7 recommendations for how to ensure the supply of child care services meets demand during periods when providers implement the recommendations described in paragraph 7#a71 including whether it will be necessary to expand the number of child care providers to meet such demand and1 if so1 recommendations for how to expand the number of child care providers2 and 7#c7 the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b74 #d4 ,definitions ,the terms ,state1 ,indian ,tribe1 and ,tribal organization have the meanings given such terms in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act1 #e1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba4 ,funds appropriated to carry out this ,act shall remain available until expended4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,september #af1 #bjbj4;,clerk4