,i #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cibb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #g1 #bjbc ,ms4 ,perez 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,mann1 ,ms4 ,caraveo1 and ,mrs4 ,chavez-,de,remer7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,agriculture to carry out an initiative to develop1 expand1 and improve rural childcare1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,expanding ,childcare in ,rural ,america ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,expanding ,childcare in ,rural ,america ,initiative 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,childcare 7,a7 ,in general ,the term childcare means any program that-- 7i7 provides quality care and early education for young children who-- 7,i7 are in kindergarten2 or 7,,ii7 have not yet entered kindergarten2 and 7ii7 is operated by-- 7,i7 an eligible childcare provider described in section #feh,p7#f77;,a7 of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn7#f77;,a772 or 7,,ii7 a childcare provider that1 on the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7aa7 is licensed1 regulated1 or registered in the ,state1 territory1 or ,indian ,tribe in which the provider is located2 and 7bb7 meets applicable ,state1 ,tribal1 territorial1 and local health and safety requirements4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term childcare includes-- 7i7 a school-based program described in subparagraph 7,a72 7ii7 a facility used for a program described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7iii7 a service provided under a program described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,initiative ,the term ,initiative means the ,expanding ,childcare in ,rural ,america ,initiative established under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish an initiative1 to be known as the ,expanding ,childcare in ,rural ,america ,initiative1 under which the ,secretary shall provide1 for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh1 priority in accordance with subsection 7c7 to address the availability1 quality1 and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities4 7c7 ,childcare priorities 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 in selecting recipients of loans and grants under a program described in paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall give priority to any qualified applicant that proposes to use the loan or grant to address the availability1 quality1 or cost of childcare in an agricultural or rural community4 7#b7 ,description of programs ,the programs referred to in paragraph 7#a7 are the following3 7,a7 ,the essential community facilities loan and grant programs authorized under section #cjf7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf7;a774 7,b7 ,the technical assistance and training grant program authorized under section #cjf7;a7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf7;a774 7,c7 ,the rural business development grant program authorized under section #caj;,b7c7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aicb7;c774 7,d7 ,the business and industry direct and guaranteed loan program authorized under section #caj;,b7g7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aicb7;g774 7,e7 ,the rural microentrepreneur assistance program authorized under section #cgi;,e of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjhs74 7,f7 ,the rural innovation stronger economy 7,,rise7 grant program authorized under section #cgi;,i of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjhw74 7d7 ,requirements ,in providing funding in accordance with the ,initiative1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 give priority to communities in farming-dependent counties1 as described in the #bjae county typology codes published by the ,economic ,research ,service 7as revised72 and 7#b7 ensure a balanced geographical distribution of the benefits under the ,initiative4 7e7 ,use of intermediaries ,in providing funding in accordance with the ,initiative1 the ,secretary may make awards through a childcare resource and referral organization1 a staffed family childcare network1 a community development financial institution1 a nonprofit organization1 or a network of nonprofit organizations1 with demonstrated expertise in-- 7#a7 providing technical or financial assistance for the acquisition1 construction1 renovation1 or improvement of childcare facilities2 7#b7 providing technical1 financial1 or managerial assistance to childcare providers2 or 7#c7 securing private sources of capital financing for childcare or other low-income community development4 7f7 ,evaluation2 report 7#a7 ,evaluation ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall conduct a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the projects carried out using assistance provided under the ,initiative1 including-- 7,a7 a description of-- 7i7 the types of projects carried out2 7ii7 the communities in which the projects are carried out2 7iii7 the organizations and entities participating in the projects2 and 7iv7 the types of partnerships developed to carry out the projects2 and 7,b7 the economic and social impacts of the investments in the projects4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives a report describing the evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#a71 including a thorough analysis of the outcomes of the evaluation4