▶ 0:06:59Uh the committee will please come to order. A quorum is present. Uh the committee meets today pursuant to notice to consider eight bills. The chair announces that requests for recorded votes may be postponed pursuant to clause two of rule nine or or 11 of the rules of the House of Representatives and committee rule 14B. Without objection, the chair may recess the committee at any point.
▶ 0:07:24Today, for the third time this Congress, the committee is turning again to a crucial topic and a bridge between everything this committee does, child care. Child care is essential to helping working parents thrive and our local economies grow. The Child Care and Development Block Grant or CCBD DBG is the federal program governing child care programs for low-income working families.
▶ 0:07:50This block grant program exists to help working families access affordable child care, giving them the freedom to remain in the workforce, increase their economic opportunity, realize financial freedom, and move beyond the need for federal safety net. Thriving independently of government support, CCDBG is one solution to the multifaceted problem of child care affordability and access.
▶ 0:08:17CCDBG also meets the needs of American industry in light of a national workforce participation rate that is currently just 62.5% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at this comm as this committee has learned the federal government cannot solve the growing need for child care in this country alone. In fact, CCDBG only serves approximately 10% of children in the private sector child care market.
▶ 0:08:47That market uh that makes waste uh fraud and abuse like what has been found in Minnesota even more untenable. Child care assistance for working families is rendered powerless when those dollars are not protected and widespread fraud threatens to erode public trust in the program. No amount of fraud in public programs is acceptable. That's why today the committee is taking action to deliver accountability and transparency in our federal child care assistance programs.
▶ 0:09:18Since 2002, CCDBG has been identified as a program at risk of significant improper payments with various agencies recognizing this vulnerability, including the Office of Management and Budget, the Government Account Accountability Office, and the US Department of Health and Human That warning has come home to roost in Minnesota.
▶ 0:09:41In a 2020 go report, the government watchdog estimated a gross improper payment amount amount of 325 million for CCDBG in the previous fiscal year. Yet in those days, Congress appropriated CCDBG just over $5 billion. The average national improper payment rate was 4.5%.
▶ 0:10:07Today, CCDBG has appropriated more than $8 billion with an average improper payment rate of nearly 5%. What's more, states led by Democrat administrations average an improper payment rate more than doubling Republican le states. That's a starting disparity, demonstrating very different concerns about the proper stewardship of federal taxpayer dollars.
▶ 0:10:32When states administer federal programs, we expect a diligent effort to execute what the law requires. Americans should have confidence that their taxpayer dollars are funding critical child care assistance for families in need rather than enriching those seeking to loot public programs for private gain.
▶ 0:10:53Today, we consider eight pieces of legislation that would close loopholes, tighten requirements, and enhance the federal government's ability to detect and punish wrongdoers and fraudsters. Taking out west waste fraud and abuse in federal child care assistance will ensure public trust in CCDBG and allow for more dollars, economic opportunity, and workforce participation among America's families.
▶ 0:11:20That's what is possible when federal child care assistance is responsibly administered and why we should not allow fraud or mismanagement to undermine solutions that working families urgently need. With that said, I yield to the ranking member for his opening
▶ 0:11:38Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, child care is a necessity for millions of American families. And in many places, the cost of child care when family when families can even find it can be as much or even more than their rent or mortgage payments. And in many communities, child care simply does not exist in sufficient supply. As a direct result, our economy loses an estimated billion in earnings, productivity, and revenue every year.
▶ 0:12:07And that's just not a personal fail failure on the part of parents or providers. It's a policy failure. Knowing this reality and yet having to reconcile it with today's markup, it's tough bill to swallow. Today, we will consider eight bills that will do nothing to meaningfully bring down the cost of child care, increase the supply of child care, or improve the working conditions for child care providers.
▶ 0:12:31Instead, we'll consider legislation that will needlessly create uncertainty for providers and make it more difficult for states to administer our nation's largest child care assistance program. I appreciate the importance of preventing fraud in government programs, but there's been no evidence of widespread fraud in the child care program.
▶ 0:12:50But if we're going to do oversight, it should at very least begin with bringing in the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Kennedy, who is responsible for implementing child care programs. He has yet to appear before this committee despite numerous requests from this side that you, Mr. Chairman, and and to you, Mr. Chairman, and to the Secretary directly.
▶ 0:13:17Now in terms of what we will consider, first we will consider HR 7720 7720 the child care payment integrity and fraud accountability act. Under present law HHS assess the state's compliance with regulatory governing the child care and development block grant through a review and approval process every three years.
▶ 0:13:39HR 7722 would require states to submit additional paperwork to the secretary, including via unique accounting methods not used in any other reporting. While these additional reporting requirements may seem innocuous, this bill would force states to spend more than their allotted CDBG uh funds [clears throat] to administer on administrative costs, leading um less money for child care.
▶ 0:14:07For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose that bill. HR 7722. The second bill we'll consider is uh called the combating regulatory abuse, closing known deficiencies, and overseeing waste nationwide. Acronym acronym crackdown. Uh I say again, states already required to report error rates.
▶ 0:14:31But this bill would require states to effectively triple their reporting, punish states for failing to meet deliberately set high standards and effectively give the secretary cart blanch to require as many additional reports from the states as the secretary desires, further increasing administrative costs and opening up states to invasive and excessive oversight. For these reasons, I'll oppose that bill. Third bill we will consider is HR 7722.
▶ 0:15:00the Child Care Integrity Monitoring Act that will require states to undergo comprehensive reviews of the C CCDBG performance every three years and require states arbitrarily and [clears throat] require states which are arbitrarily designated as high risk to submit additional monitoring. Unfortunately, this bill is redundant and vague.
▶ 0:15:24Additionally, the bill does not define how states are designed or designated as higher risk or the affforementioned additional monitoring by the secretary what that might entail. And despite these new administrative responsibilities, the bill provides no additional funding for the increased monitoring oversight. The Office of Child Care has lost more than half its oversight team in the past year, and this bill would force both state and federal staff to do more with less.
▶ 0:15:52So I oppose this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. It HR723 is the fourth bill we'll consider safeguarding taxpayer dollars and child care act. This bill will require the secretary to permanently debar providers from the program after a determination of fraud. But providers operate throughout state systems, not direct federal contracts, raising questions about how this federal department would function.
▶ 0:16:20The bill does not clarify whether a violation in one state would trigger a nationwide ban for a franchise program or whether provider refers to an individual or the entire business rather than redefining refining oversight and imposes a rigid mandate.
▶ 0:16:39The bill further debars providers in the child care the child and adult care food program after a determination of fraud while additionally instituting reciprocal debarment between the CCDBG and the child and adult uh care food program under present law.
▶ 0:16:58Additional in addition to a review of CCBG funds every three years the CC CACFP providers who commit serious violations can be borrowed for years and required to repay debts. Strong enforcement mechanisms are already in place.
▶ 0:17:17We all agree that fraud must be addressed, but automatic permanent deformment without any discretion uh risk unintended consequences, particularly when there's no limit to the uh seriousness of the offense, especially as communities face child care shortages. And it's also critical that we have processes in place to ensure that providers are not wrongfully disbarred for inadvertent or unintentional administrative or human errors. So, we need to oppose that bill, too.
▶ 0:17:47HR 7724, no waiverss for fraud act, the fifth bill we'll consider. Um, under current law, the CCDBG statute allows the secretary limited authority to exercise discretion and imposing sanctions on states. That flexibility exists for a reason. that allows the department to account for unique circumstances, correct technical errors, and ensure that enforcement actions do not inadvertently disrupt services for children and families.
▶ 0:18:17This bill will eliminate that waiver authority altogether, substituting regulatory rigidity for administrative judgment and removing a tool that both parties have relied on to implement the law responsibly. Combined with the previous bills, it reflects a shift from a balanced oversight to inflexible federal mandates, eliminating all waiver authority, risk punishing states in ways that ultimately hurt hurt families.
▶ 0:18:43We should we should pursue smart accountability, strong enforcement paired with practical flexibility to keep the system working for children and working parents. So that bill needs to be opposed and uh too HR 7725 the stop child care fraud act under present law CCDBG plans must already report measures that take they sorry report measures that they take to prevent fraud including
▶ 0:19:14how they monitor providers and protect federal funds. This bill essentially codifies those requirements by directing states to more explicitly detail their anti-fraud controls and explain how they use data across state and local agencies to oversee child care providers. But unlike the previous bills, 7725 strengthens oversight without imposing [snorts] rigid penalties or stripping flexibility because it supports responsible accountability.
▶ 0:19:43I can support that bill and will urge a yes vote. Uh 7677 closing the propri fraud gap u was the seventh bill we'll consider requires the government accountability office to conduct a fraud prevention study to um fraud prevention study in federal early childhood education childare nutrition program services.
▶ 0:20:07Given that the intent of this bill appears to be examine fraud prevention and programs such as Head Start, child and adult care, food programs, and child care development block grant, that bill should also be supported. 7726 and no funds for repeat child care violations act is the final bill that we'll consider under present law if state is found to repeatedly misuse funds leading to improper payments to child care providers.
▶ 0:20:35The HHS secretary has the discretion to withhold child care dollars from the state. This bill would tie the hands of the secretary, forcing states to be disqualified from child care assistance for simple mistakes such as paperwork errors. As I previously stated, addressing fraud should be a bipartisan ma matter.
▶ 0:20:53But unfortunately, while my colleagues may suggest that this bill would would make small technical change in the secretar's duties, I cannot support thoughtlessly restricting access to a program that families depend on for reliable child care based on small inadvertent errors. For those reasons, I oppose this bill. Mr. Chairman, I fear today may be another missed opportunity. Parents are begging for us to address the problem of finding affordable child care in this country.
▶ 0:21:24But I can promise you this is not this these bills are not what they meant. Nor will any of these bills meaningfully help Americans struggling to make ends meet but find child care options that work for them or their families. Mr. Chairman, I yield
▶ 0:21:40I thank the gentleman.
▶ 0:21:42I thank the gentleman. Uh without objection, uh all other members who wish to insert written opening statements into the record may do so by submitting them to the committee clerk electronically by the end of the day today. Pursuant to House rules, a copy of the text to be marked up was made available to members and the public at least 24 hours in advance. The bills being marked up today shall be open to amendment at any point, and the chair will allow members to offer amendments in a manner not prohibited by House or committee rules.
▶ 0:22:12Without objection, members who have more than one amendment to the bills and wish to offer their amendments on block may do so. The committee will now proceed to consideration of bill HR7720 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill.
▶ 0:22:35HR7720, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states to account for fraud fraudulent payments made under such act.
▶ 0:22:45Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Mesmer, for what purpose do you seek
▶ 0:23:03Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the
▶ 0:23:05The clerk shall designate the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 0:23:08Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7720 offered by Mr. Mesmer of Indiana, identifier H7720_s.
▶ 0:23:18Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of a substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. Mesmer for five minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Every year, near nearly two million families receive over eight billion dollars in federal and state child care subsidies.
▶ 0:23:41Childcare assistance helps keep parents in the workforce, growing their own economic independence, and contributing to regional economic development. When administering the child care and development block grant program, we expect and require states to responsibly manage and admin manage and administer the funds allocate them allocated to them through federal taxpayer dollars.
▶ 0:24:03Under the current program requirements, state states must submit a report of any errors occurring in administration of their CCDB DBG grant funds to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Errors, although we try to minimize them as much as possible, are unsurprising given the variable nature of child care needs. Generally, these errors are overpayments or underpayments made to childcare providers, which are easily easily categorized in the current reporting mechanism.
▶ 0:24:34But the absence of fraudulent payments in these account requirements makes it easy for states to forego accountability when taxpayer dollars are inadvertently distributed to a fraudulent provider. My my bill, the Child Care Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act, would require states to more thoroughly thoroughly categorize the improper payments they already submit by including more categories such as suspected fraud and verified fraud.
▶ 0:25:01This amendment in nature of a substitute makes a technical change to the bill. Without such accounting, it is hard to see the full picture of how taxpayer dollars are being managed. And without a state proactively and accurately assessing its program's financial health, it can be difficult to understand where improvements are needed. Providing this clarity is just common fiscal sense. With that, I urge the passage of the Childare Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act, and I yield back.
▶ 0:25:30Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute?
▶ 0:25:36Mr. Chairman,
▶ 0:25:39does the gentle lady from North Carolina move be recognized?
▶ 0:25:42Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word in office.
▶ 0:25:45You You are recognized.
▶ 0:25:46Thank you. Let Let me start with something that should unite everyone on this committee. We all want strong program integrity. When someone knowingly steals taxpayer dollars meant to help children and families, that conduct, that conduct should be investigated and addressed. But our responsibility as lawmakers is to ensure that the policies we write actually improve oversight rather than simply adding new layers of administrative complexity.
▶ 0:26:16HR7720 attempts to strengthen oversight of the child care and development block grant by requiring states to track and report additional categories of improper payments, including what the the bill calls suspected fraudulent payments and technically improper payments. The challenge is that that these categories do not currently exist in federal financial reporting systems used by states to administer CCDBG.
▶ 0:26:48States report improper payments using wellestablished federal standards. Those standards already distinguish between fraud, administrative error, and other types of payment issues. by creating new statutory reporting categories that do not align with those systems. Then this bill would likely require states to redesign their accounting and reporting processes. This is not a small change.
▶ 0:27:14State agencies responsible for administering child care assistance programs already operate with limited administrative resources. Their priorities should be helping families access safe and reliable child care and ensuring providers are paid accurately and on time.
▶ 0:27:33So if states must divert staff and funding to build new financial tracking structures simply to comply with new federal reporting requirements, we may actually reduce the resources available to support families and providers. And we should be clear about the broader context. The child care and development block grant is already one of the most carefully monitored programs administered by the department of health and human services.
▶ 0:28:00States conduct eligibility verification, provider monitoring, payment reconciliation, and regular reporting to the federal government. Improper payments can and do occur often because of paperwork errors errors, changes in in family income or administrative processing issues. Those challenges should be addressed through improved systems and technical assistance.
▶ 0:28:30But layering on reporting categories that are not clearly defined in statute or federal guidance may create confusion rather than clarity. Accountability matters, transparency matters, but oversight policy should be practical and they should be aligned with the way programs are actually administered. For these reasons, Mr. Chairman, I oppose this bill. I yield
▶ 0:28:58I thank the gentle lady. The gentle lady from Georgia, Miss McMath, seek to be
▶ 0:29:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to speak in opposition to the amendment and the nature of a substitute. that you are recognized for five minutes.
▶ 0:29:10Thank you. If Secretary Kennedy is so concerned about fraud in programs under this his jurisdiction, he should appear before this committee. Apparently, he has been invited many times. There are members here today who would love to hear from the secretary in person on many things, but he has refused to abide by his basic responsibility to be here to answer our questions. Fraud is inexcusable.
▶ 0:29:38No matter how much the other side may claim here today, Democrats are committed to fighting fraud and holding criminals accountable. I know that firsthand as the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Crime. I would even argue that our side may even take cases of fraud more personally because it is programs that we truly believe in that are often targeted.
▶ 0:30:03Programs that are supposed to be for the public good and for those who have the least in this country. Fraud is inexcusable, especially when it targets public dollars meant to support working More must be done to keep money out of the hands of thieves and grifters who see federal programs as ways to enrich themselves instead of making life easier for lawabiding people who are just trying to get by.
▶ 0:30:34Justice must be done to people who steal these dollars from working families. But most of all, the bills that we're considering here today will not bring justice to the victims or recover the money that was stolen. Instead, bills like this one and the next few that we'll be considering here today are meant to overburden states and child care providers with more paperwork. So, it becomes even more difficult for them to participate in the program.
▶ 0:31:00By adding bureaucrat bureaucratic hoops, they try to strengthen their argument that these programs aren't worth funding. They will inevitably say that these reporting requirements are too difficult to comply with. and their solution will be to just get rid of these programs altogether or for states and providers to just not participate. They know that they can't get rid of this program in the short term. So they play the long game.
▶ 0:31:30They underfund government agencies and overburden states and grantees so that they can set them up for failure. They do that because it fits their narrative that government is slow and unresponsive despite the fact that they themselves are the ones that are making it slower and less responsive to people's everyday That is the harsh truth behind these efforts today.
▶ 0:31:58It's not to root out fraud, which we should all be committed to doing. It's about using a crisis at a historically popular and effective program so they can make a point about their vision of the government regardless of how many families lose child care or go hungry along the way. Not even a year ago, President Trump and House Republicans tried to dismantle Head Start and they failed.
▶ 0:32:26Now they're using the pain of families who have been defrauded to try to weaken other child care programs instead of trying to ensure that these dollars are really going to the families who need them the most. I am opposed to this ANS and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote no and I yield.
▶ 0:32:51Thank the gentle lady. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized? The gentleman from Virginia, ranking member, Mr. Scott. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized? There being no further discussion um or members who wish to be recognized, we uh can now uh move to amendments. Are there any who wish to offer amendments?
▶ 0:33:19I recognize the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott.
▶ 0:33:23Mr. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment to the desk um underscore 04.
▶ 0:33:32The clerk will uh report the amendment.
▶ 0:33:34Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7720 offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia, identifier Scott_h7720_00004.
▶ 0:33:49Does the gentleman from Utah wish to reserve a point of order? I reserve point of order.
▶ 0:33:53A point of order is reserved. I now recognize the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott, for five minutes in support of his amendment.
▶ 0:34:01Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, requires states to submit to the secretary information including the dollar and percentage amount of improper payments made by the state disagregated as specified by the secretary by standardized payments categories including suspected and verified fraudulent payments, non-fraudulent overpayments, underpayments and technically improper payments, eg system error payments.
▶ 0:34:30Uh unfortunately these are actually not standardized payment categories. They're not consistent with accounting and compliance procedures used by other HHS programs existing guidance or under the payment integrity information act of 2019. We've already discussed that states undergo significant record reporting requirements in order to receive federal child care funding.
▶ 0:34:55Forcing states to create new, separate, and different accounting systems to administer the childcare and development block grant is time consuming, burdensome, and This amendment conforms the reporting requirements in the bill to current accounting categories, but adds the responsibility for the secretary to take the information in the reports and provide that information to Congress.
▶ 0:35:19If the purpose is to ensure accountability and oversight, ensuring that the department is reviewing state reports and summarizing them for Congress could help policymakers understand and address any issues or challenges facing the states. F further and importantly, the secretary reporting uh secretary reporting will also focus on the issues most important to millions of American families. That is whether child care is accessible and affordable in their in in their area.
▶ 0:35:48I hope we'd focus on that rather than making up new accounting categories as this bill would require. Urge my colleagues to support the amendment and yield back.
▶ 0:35:59I thank the gentleman. Does the gentleman from Utah insist on a point of
▶ 0:36:02Mr. Chairman like to withdraw order. Port of order.
▶ 0:36:04The res reservation is withdrawn. Does anyone else seek recognition on the Seeing none, uh the question is on the amendment by the gentleman from All in favor say I.
▶ 0:36:25All oppose, no. No. In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed to. Um, a roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this vote will be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7720? Further action.
▶ 0:36:54Uh seeing no amendments, further action on on HR 7720 is postponed. We'll now move to consider the next bill. The committee will now proceed to consideration of bill HR721 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the
▶ 0:37:17HR 7721, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to implement an improper payment threshold under such act. Uh without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as read. going to suspend for a moment.
▶ 0:37:47We will suspend for a moment and then return quickly.
▶ 0:38:35I need to talk right away. We'll return to uh consideration of HR Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Growthman, for what purpose do you seek recognition? I have an amendment at the desk titled H7721.
▶ 0:38:57The clerk shall designate the amendment in a nature of a substitute.
▶ 0:39:01Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7721 offered by Mr. Growthman of Wisconsin identifier H7721_s.
▶ 0:39:10Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. Gothman for five minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 0:39:28Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh we've just been talking about improper payments in CCDBG. Mo uh most states operate above board, but when improper payments rates rise above reasonable levels, that indicates trouble. My state of Wisconsin knows a thing about this. In 2010, Wisconsin dealt with a situation similar to Minnesota's widespread fraud within the state's child care program. Uh unlike Minnesota, we had a governor, Governor Walker, who considered this a big problem.
▶ 0:39:59Thankfully, Wisconsin took responsibility and enacted reforms, expanding background checks, creating a new fraud unit, and instituting an audit system. CCDBG regulations already set an improper payments threshold which triggers corrective action a corrective action plan to get a state back on track.
▶ 0:40:19But with a national average improper payment rate of around 4% the current practice of a 10% threshold seems too high to address small problems before they spiral. That's why I'm introducing the Combating Regulatory Abuse Closing Known Deficiencies and Overseeing Waste Nationwide Act or the Crackdown Act.
▶ 0:40:42This bill would set a clear 5% improper payments threshold for states to create accountability and keep in place the already existing corrective action plan tool. This amendment and nature of a substitute makes technical changes changes to that bill. Currently 14 states have improper payment rates above the 5% threshold because so many other states do better.
▶ 0:41:09It's kind of So this is a sensible metric with many state examples to learn from, including my home state of Wisconsin, which I am glad to say has an improper payment rate below 1%. With that, I urge my colleagues to adopt this common sense reform and expect the best use of taxpayer dollars. I yield back.
▶ 0:41:38Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of a substitute?
▶ 0:41:44Miss McCath.
▶ 0:41:46Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh last year, House Rep Republicans and Secretary Kennedy tried to defund and dismantle the Head Start program. I just mentioned that a few moments ago, a program directly responsible for making child care slots available to working and middle class families who would not get them otherwise. 15% of kids and Head Start have a disability of some kind, meaning that caring for them is a little bit more expensive.
▶ 0:42:15Without Head Start, these families, they're going to lose that child care. If House Republicans and Secretary Kennedy had their way, these kids, these kids will really have nowhere to go. That's what would have happened had families and Democrats not spoken out to the public to save Head Start. Now, Republicans are trying to do the same thing to other federal child care programs.
▶ 0:42:44In my home state of Georgia, and I'm sure in many of yours as well, families wait years for those slots to open up. You have to enter a lottery and hope that there's room for your child. And that's what happens to regular people. The people who don't have a few extra thousand dollars just lying around to pay for care. And it goes into a lottery system. And that if they aren't picked, that's that's it for them.
▶ 0:43:13They've got no other options for their children. These families stay home from work and they do it themselves or their kids just don't get the care that they need. Now, you want to get rid of the few slots that families are fighting over. Make families wait even longer for child care because you want simply to make a political point. You know that's wrong. You know that is wrong.
▶ 0:43:45Wrong for so many reasons and wrong for families all across this country that are just looking for a little bit of room to Prices rose again this quarter. And instead of helping people pay for child care, instead of using the people's money to pay for things that they really need, we're considering bills today that will only make child care more expensive and put it further out of reach
▶ 0:44:15for law-abiding people who are doing everything right and they still can't get by. people who just want to provide a decent life for themselves and for their
▶ 0:44:29That's who gets punished with sloppy legislation like this. Legislation that punishes an entire state for the actions of a few criminals. Bills that punish innocent people for crimes that they had absolutely nothing to do with. I oppose the ANS and once again I'm encouraging all of my colleagues to oppose it as well and I yield.
▶ 0:45:00Thank you.
▶ 0:45:02Thank you. Are there any yield Mr. Owens?
▶ 0:45:11I'd like to yield my time to Mr. Grman,
▶ 0:45:14Thank you. A couple comments and I I like the lady from Georgia. Um uh first of all, right now we're borrowing 26% of our budget. The idea that trying to save money is making a political point is absurd. Uh it's high time we dealt with that. The other thing is when you continue to allow fraud or cheating or improper payments to continue, you kind of degrade society.
▶ 0:45:43you know, society becomes more and more um it's okay to break the rules. It's okay not to obey the rules, and that's another benefit that will come out of this bill. As mentioned, Wisconsin's down to under 1%. So, this is not a difficult uh standard to be met and um leave it at that.
▶ 0:46:12Are there any any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of a substitute? Mr.
▶ 0:46:20Miss Adams is recognized for five
▶ 0:46:22Uh thank you. I move to strike the last last word in opposition to this bill.
▶ 0:46:29The Child Care and Development Block Grant exists to support working families by helping them afford safe, reliable child care so parents can go to work and children can learn and grow in in safe environments. And let me be clear, everyone on this committee agrees that fraud should be taken seriously. When someone knowingly steals taxpayer dollars, they should be held accountable. But we should also ground our policy discussion in reality.
▶ 0:46:59Fraud in child care and development block grant program is is extremely rare. What we are far more likely to see are administrative errors, eligibility changes, or payment adjustments that occur in any large program administered across 50 states.
▶ 0:47:18Yet HR721 focuses almost entirely on imposing a new statutory 5% overpayment threshold that would trigger corrective action requirements for states. At first glance that may sound like a simple accountability measure, but in practice it it risks creating unintended consequences for the families and the providers who rely on these programs.
▶ 0:47:45Improper payments do not always reflect Families work hours change and income fluctuates. Documentation is is updated after eligibility determinations are made. And sometimes administrative errors occur.
▶ 0:48:03If states face penalties tied to a rigid threshold rigid threshold, they may respond by tightening eligibility processes or delaying payments in ways that make it harder for families to receive assistance. Now, that means parents waiting longer for child care support and providers waiting longer to be paid. And while we're debating a bill focused on fraud prevention, we should remember the bigger challenge facing families today.
▶ 0:48:34The real crisis in child care is not widespread fraud. It is affordability and access. Only a fraction of eligible children currently receive assistance through CCDBG because the program has been chronically And that's why many of us have have worked to advance policies like the Child Care for Working Families Act, which which would expand access
▶ 0:49:04to child care, lower costs for families, and strengthen the child care workforce. Those are the kinds of investments that would make the greatest difference for working families across this country. So yes, accountability, it does matter.
▶ 0:49:22oversight matters, but we should also ensure that our policies strengthen child care systems rather than create new barriers for the families and providers that these programs are meant to support. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and and I yield
▶ 0:49:42Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of the substitute? No amendment
▶ 0:49:55being there there being no further discussion on the amendment and nature of substitute the committee will move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who w any members who wish to offer amendments?
▶ 0:50:07Mr. Chairman I have an amendment at the
▶ 0:50:14The clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 0:50:16Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7721 offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia identifier
▶ 0:50:28Does a gentleman from Utah reserve a point of order?
▶ 0:50:30Uh Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of
▶ 0:50:32I now now recognize the gentleman from Virginia for 5 minutes in support of of the amendment.
▶ 0:50:37Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, before I begin, I'd just like to respond to the comment made by the gentleman from Wisconsin about the budget and remind everyone that that big ugly bill added $3.5 trillion in new debt and that every member on this side voted against adding $3.5 trillion in new debt to the budget. Mr. Chairman, this bill would set an overpayment threshold.
▶ 0:51:03The bill would set an overp payment threshold beyond which states would be required to enter a corrective action plan with the secretary. Currently, the office of child care at HHS requires states to be subject to a corrective plan if improper payments both overpayments, underpayments, and fraudulent payments exceed 10% which is consistent with requirements agencies are subject to under the payment integrity information act or PIA.
▶ 0:51:33That bill in that act dictates requirements for federal agencies on estimating and reporting improper payments. H uh the bill this bill goes further than the existing process by removing states due process investing more power in the secretary to disqualify entire states from the program even if states are making progress towards uh improper improper payments.
▶ 0:51:57Now to be clear, the program integrity is vitally important and that's why there are already systems in place, but this bill sets up states to fail. And I have deep concerns that the bill will undermine this vital program which brings child care in in um in reach for parents nearly [clears throat] in which brings child care into reach for parents of nearly two million children and supports child care providers expands supply of child care and ensures parents are able to go to work.
▶ 0:52:28That's why this amendment is so because the amendment uh the amendment uh was really provoked by a self-described independent journalist publicly posting a vid video um documenting his visit to a daycare run a daycare center in Minnesota claiming the videos were proof that these centers were taking federal childare care funds
▶ 0:52:58administered through the state without actually providing any care for children. Now, despite the fact that Minnesota's child care agency found that the child care centers in question were actually operating and caring for for for children and that the doors were closed to keep strangers out. That's why it looked to him like it was there was nobody there. Conservative media and Republican officials brought national attention to the story.
▶ 0:53:25Soon thereafter, the Trump administration announced federal action, including immediate freezing of federal child care funds to Minnesota. Now, HHS also engaged in what they call defend the spend system for all funds distributed through the administration of children f children and families at HHS.
▶ 0:53:46And defend the spend requires grantees to provide detailed documentation and proof of payment before receiving funds, increasing paperwork, and delaying payment to providers across the country without any discernable impact on program [snorts] integrity. And this amendment would require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide clarity to this committee regarding the delays in payments to providers by way of the payment management systems.
▶ 0:54:14In addition, the requests would demand information about delays and access prevented uh to CCDBG funding. The communities across the country, in communities across the country, there are child care deserts that leave young parents without access to need to needed child care. Whether they enter the workforce or seek out workforce training or return to school, access to child care is not a game.
▶ 0:54:42administration should provide transparency to this committee [snorts] regarding otherwise unexplained delays in funding and decisions. So I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so we can get some clarity on what's going on and I yield back the balance of my time.
▶ 0:54:58Thank you. The time of the gentleman has expired. Does the gentleman insist on his point of order?
▶ 0:55:02Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my point of
▶ 0:55:04The reservation is withdrawn. Does anyone else seek recognition on the The question is on the amendment by the gentleman from Virginia. All in favor say I.
▶ 0:55:17All oppose? No. No. In the opinion of the chair that the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed
▶ 0:55:27A roll call has been ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this vote will be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the to the amendment nature of substitute on HR Further on further action on HR 7721 is post postponed. We will now move to consider the next bill.
▶ 0:55:52The committee will now proceed to consideration of the bill HR722 for amendment. The bill is circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill. HR7722, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require to require trienal comprehensive reviews of state performance under such
▶ 0:56:15Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized?
▶ 0:56:27Mr. Chairman,
▶ 0:56:29Representative Honor, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
▶ 0:56:31Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk titled H7722 ANS. The clerk shall designate the amendment in nature of a substitute.
▶ 0:56:41Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7722 offered by Mr. Ander of Missouri identifier H7722s.
▶ 0:56:51Without objection, the amendment should be considered original text for the purposes of further amendment. The amendment in nature of substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. your honor for 5 minutes to explain the amendment and nature of a
▶ 0:57:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Oversight and responsible use of taxpayer dollars should not depend on informal fraud monitoring, especially when those dollars are being used to help parents participate in the workforce. But since 2002, the Government Accountability Office has identified child care and development block grant program as highly vulnerable to improper payments.
▶ 0:57:27Since 2007, HHS has voluntarily conducted audits of state expenditures through the program on a three-year cycle. But after what we've seen in Minnesota, these pliable requirements are clearly not enough to maintain the integrity of the program given its significant risk for fraud and abuse.
▶ 0:57:46That is why I introduced HR7722, the Child Care Integrity Monitoring Act, which would codify the three-year audit cycle, direct the Secretary to designate high-risk states, and allow additional monitoring to help protect this program, and promote better stewardship of our constituents tax dollars. The private child care market is already a fragile ecosystem.
▶ 0:58:11Let's let's let's not further burden the system by allowing waste, fraud, and abuse to go uncorrected. This amendment in the nature of a substitute makes a technical change to the bill. I urge my colleagues support and passage of the bill. I yield back. Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of the substitute?
▶ 0:58:36Mr. Chairman,
▶ 0:58:39Miss Adams is recognized for five
▶ 0:58:41Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to strike the last word opposition to this bill. across the country, parents are struggling to find affordable child care. Providers are closing classrooms because they cannot hire or retain staff and states are already working to administer a complex program with limited administrative resources. That is the reality on the ground.
▶ 0:59:06But instead of focusing on expanding access to child care or strengthening the workforce that makes these programs possible, this bill focuses on creating a new federal designation for states labeled as high risk. The challenge is that that the bill does not clearly define what that standard actually means.
▶ 0:59:28States could be labeled high-risisk based on broad or unclear criteria even when they are actively working to resolve issues and serve families. That kind of vague designation risks creating uncertainty for state agencies and and providers without actually improving how the program operates.
▶ 0:59:52And we should remember that oversight alone does not solve the underlying challenges facing the child care system. Families need more available child care slots. Providers need stable funding and a workforce that they can retain and states need clear guidance and sufficient resources to administer these programs effectively.
▶ 1:00:16Adding new compliance labels wi- w without addressing those realities will not make child care more accessible or affordable for the families who depend on it. So while oversight has its place, I believe that our focus should be on strengthening the child care system so that it works for parents, providers, and states alike. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
▶ 1:00:43Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of a
▶ 1:00:51The Mr. Scout is recognized for five
▶ 1:00:54Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move the second last word. Republican colleagues have last shown to the Trump administration's rhetoric around the word fraud, using it to target social services and health programs. Various House and Senate committees have held oversight committees on this issue. The committee majority has also requested various documents related to fraud and child care programs and has previously subpoenaed documents related to fraud and nutrition programs.
▶ 1:01:22It's vitally important to hold those committing fraud and government programs accountable and to build systems that prevent fraud in the first place. But it's not beneficial to upend federal programs that are proven to be effective in serving low-income children and families. Now, it is a height of hypocrisy to see the Trump administration's um uh first action when he returned to office was to fire 12 independent inspectors general.
▶ 1:01:50That's an non-political role design designated [snorts] to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. Now, HR 7722 would require that after comprehensive reviews, states with a quote high level of unresolved or repeated adverse audit findings, a high level of unresolved issues under corrective action plans or unresolved or repeated findings of non-compliance with state plans would be designated as high
▶ 1:02:20risk. It does not define what a high level of these indicators would be or whether or not they would be used to relative measures or thresholds. In addition, states designated as high risk shall be quote shall be subject to additional monitoring as determined by the secretary according to the bill but does doesn't specify what that monitoring may ent may entail. What could the secretary demand?
▶ 1:02:48Could the secretary demand uh for example the voter roles and we found that the the in in one situation uh with ICE the um one official said well if you give us our voter roles we'll move ICE out of the state. Can that be um part of this bill? Fraud in any federal program is always unacceptable but there's no evidence that there's any widespread fraud in the CCDF program.
▶ 1:03:16This bill vests more power in the secretary of HHS without providing additional funding or oversight or technical assistance. So for that, Mr. Chairman, I would hope that we would defeat the bill and I yield back. Thank you. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of a substitute?
▶ 1:03:38There being no further discussion on the amendment and nature of the substitute, the committee will now move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who wish to offer
▶ 1:03:49Mr. Chairman,
▶ 1:03:55for what purposes the gentleman from California seek seek to be recognized?
▶ 1:03:59Uh, Mr. Chairman, I have amendment at the desk.
▶ 1:04:03The clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 1:04:05Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7722 offered by Mr. Donnier of California identifier Donier_H7722AM_00004.
▶ 1:04:19Does a gentleman from Utah reserve a point of order?
▶ 1:04:21Mr. Chairman, I'd like to reserve point of order.
▶ 1:04:23I now recognize the gentleman appoint reserved. I now recognize a gentleman from California for five for five minutes in support of the amendment. My amendment would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to testify before this committee on the Department's defend the spend policy, personal actions that have cut staffing levels in the HHS Office of Child Care, and any actions the department is taking in regard to alleged fraudulent use of child
▶ 1:04:54care funds. It is customary for the secretary to appear before this committee and answer questions about the department's policies and priorities. In fact, since 2011, the secretary of HHS has appeared before the committee 10 times. However, this committee has not yet had the opportunity to hear from Secretary Kennedy since he assumed his position more than a year ago.
▶ 1:05:19As a result, this committee has gone without essential information and an opportunity to engage directly with the secretary about the department's work, including the actions that may severely harm access to child care for Americans. The recent freeze of federal child care and family assistant funds to five states including California along with terminations at the HHS Office of Child Care are major departures from past department policy.
▶ 1:05:50The Office of Child Care's work is critical to the Department of Health and Human Services goal of helping working families afford quality child care. This committee has a duty to conduct oversight and must hear from the secretary directly in public about his justification for these actions and how he is working to protect access to child care for working r families rather than rely on it.
▶ 1:06:18Given the department's important responsibilities and recent departures from past policy, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield The time of the gentleman has expired. Does the gentleman from Utah insist on the point of order? I
▶ 1:06:34have to withdraw my point of order.
▶ 1:06:35The reservation was is withdrawn. Does anyone else seek recognition on the
▶ 1:06:41Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:06:44Has the amendment has the amendment Uh, could I get a copy of of the
▶ 1:07:28Oh, okay.
▶ 1:07:42We can just continue to see if anyone else wants to talk on there. Does anyone else seek recognition on the
▶ 1:07:58We'll pause for a moment.
▶ 1:08:00We can continue.
▶ 1:08:10Just Mr. Jim,
▶ 1:08:12uh, for what purposes a gentleman from Missouri seek recognition?
▶ 1:08:17Uh, to speak against the amendment.
▶ 1:08:19The gentleman has five minutes, is recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:08:22Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I I agree with my colleague that I I would very much like to see um the secretary of HHS um testify before this uh committee, but I don't think I I don't don't think we ought to be uh codifying micromanagement of the secretar's uh schedule. Um and therefore I oppose this amendment. Okay.
▶ 1:08:52Does anyone else seek recognition on the amendment?
▶ 1:08:57The question is on the amendment by the gentleman from California. All in favor say I.
▶ 1:09:03All oppose? No.
▶ 1:09:04No. Any opinion of the chair? The nos have it and the amendment is not agreed
▶ 1:09:12Mr. Chairman, I would request a a roll call, please.
▶ 1:09:15A roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this role will be this vote will be be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the amendment in nature of a substitute to HR 207722? Further action on HR 7722 is postponed.
▶ 1:09:37We will now move to consider the next The chairman will now proceed to consideration of the bill HR7723 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the
▶ 1:09:55HR 7723, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to debar child care providers that committed fraud from receiving financial assistance under the act and for other
▶ 1:10:07Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any any amendment offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized?
▶ 1:10:22I do, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:10:24Chairwoman Ameritus Fox, for what purpose do you seek recognition? I I have an amendment at the desk.
▶ 1:10:32The clerk shall designate the amendment and nature of the substitute. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7723 offered by Miss Fox of North Carolina identifier provider_s_01.
▶ 1:10:45Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for the purpose of further amendment. The amendment and nature of substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Miss Fox for five minutes to explain the amendment and nature of a
▶ 1:10:57Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, along with others, I was frustrated to hear of the CCDBG fraud in Minnesota uncovered earlier this year, which is another example of unchecked waste, fraud, and abuse of federal taxpayer dollars. I was frustrated but not surprised.
▶ 1:11:19That's because last Congress, this committee investigated Minnesota's fraudulent use of taxpayers in another assistance program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, CACFP, when it allowed Feeding Our Future to take $250 million of federal taxpayer dollars out of the mouths of hungry children. It was true then and it's true now.
▶ 1:11:49The Feeding Our Future scam was only the tip of the iceberg in Because of the connected nature of the two assistance programs, caring for children and feeding them, fraudulent providers can bounce easily between the CCDBG and CACFP That's wrong and allows fraud to continue endlessly.
▶ 1:12:20That's why I've introduced HR723, the safeguarding taxpayer dollars in child care act, which would disbar reciprocally fraudulent providers from these two programs. This amendment in the nature of a substitute makes technical only technical changes to the bill.
▶ 1:12:44If a provider cheats one federal program, they shouldn't be allowed simply to move to another. My bill closes that loophole and protects both food and child care assistance programs from repeated fraudsters. Fraud is serious. The consequences must be also with HR7723.
▶ 1:13:11I remain committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars at the federal level and holding swindlers to task. As I've often joked before, my middle initial is a, which used to stand for an, but now stands for accountability. With that, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back.
▶ 1:13:37Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a Gentle lady from Georgia, Miss Mcbath. You wish to be recognized.
▶ 1:13:49Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I wish to speak in opposition to the amendment and the nature of nature of it.
▶ 1:13:55You are recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:13:56Thank you. There's absolutely no reason that we should be empowering a secretary who refuses to abide by their incredibly basic responsibility to appear before this committee. I want to reiterate that these bills are not about cracking down on fraud. This bill in particular is about giving the Trump administration more power to punish their political enemies and shutter programs that they can't shut down through legal means already.
▶ 1:14:24Instead of following the law, allowing the process to play out, this bill gives the sex secretary personal discretion to investigate and punish fraud. It allows the secretary to be the judge, the jury, and executioner when it comes to deciding who gets federal dollars, a process that should be This administration stops at nothing to punish people who disagree with them and is perfectly comfortable steering public dollar
▶ 1:14:54dollars away from programs that are proven to work towards their political allies. This administration has not hesitated to not only kill people for speaking out and protesting against this government, but slander their memory after they are gone. They have and will tell lies about you and your family to the entire country to justify the unjustifiable, to avoid taking the blame for entirely avoidable mistakes. Mistakes that get people killed.
▶ 1:15:24When my son Jordan was killed, the very same man who pulled the trigger tried to justify it by lying about who my son really was. He said there was a gun in the car when there wasn't. That Jordan was a thug and he wasn't. that he and his friends were doing things that they really weren't doing. I thank God every single day that those lies never caught on. But I remember how insulting it was.
▶ 1:15:52I remember thinking, "You took my child from me and now you're going to lie about who he really was to try and get away with it." It really makes you understand the depths that people are willing to sink in order to avoid being held accountable for their actions. This bill makes it easier for secretaries under this administration to make unilateral decisions at a time when Americans want accountability. They're demanding it from us.
▶ 1:16:22This administration has proven that they cannot be trusted to do the right thing on their own or even do things as basic as tell the truth. I encourage my colleagues to oppose the ANS and I I thank the gentle lady. There's a gentleman from Virginia, ranking member Scott, which should be rec recognized.
▶ 1:16:43Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I use the last move to strike the last
▶ 1:16:48You're recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:16:49Mr. Chairman, HR 7723 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to permanently debar health care providers receiving federal assistance under the CCDBG that are found to have committed fraud. While the secretary already has current as it's while the secretary is already currently required to review and monitor state compliance, this bill would require the secretary to investigate fraud.
▶ 1:17:15And that's a responsibility usually done by law enforcement, including inspectors general, who, as I've previously mentioned, have been fired. Based off the text of the bill, it's unclear how this new authority for the secretary would impact law enforcement's ability to conduct fraud investigations and whether this language actually impedes state due process. In addition, the bill tasks the secretary with deeparing providers as a remedy to fraud.
▶ 1:17:43This would be quite odd given that the child care providers generally only interact with their state to get child care funds. Um the state the federal government is on is not handing providers any funds at all. The states do. In addition, this bill is unclear whether the provider in one state would be debarred only in the state where the violation occurred or whether they'd be prohibited from participating in any state program.
▶ 1:18:10This such confusion would have significant effect on private daycare providers that operate in multiple states. It is further unclear what is meant by provider in the context of the bill as provider could reference an individual employee or an entire multi-state business. So if the so is the individual teacher court stealing funds debarred or is the entire multi-state franchise operation debarred?
▶ 1:18:38Lastly, the bill creates reciprocal debarment between the CCDBG and the child and adult care program. child and adult care program, a food program, automatically debar providers from both programs if to borrowed from one. Notably, the current statute in federal regulations already include a process in place to identify fraud and remove institutions or family or group daycare homes that are non-compliant with federal regulations from CACF.
▶ 1:19:08Under that program s program serious deficiency process institutions or family or day uh group daycare programs are disqualified for non-compliance with federal regulations and they're placed on a national disqualified list. A USDA maintained list of institutions responsible principles and individuals disqualified from participation in federal nutrition programs.
▶ 1:19:33This is vastly different from the CCDBG program which relies on the state's lead agencies to operate their programs. Although you must meet certain rules and regulations overseen by HHS institutions or family institutions or family or group daycare homes placed on the NDL list or or the serious deficiency list are required to maintain on the list for seven years until [snorts] outstanding debts are repaid unless
▶ 1:20:04it is determined that the serious deficiencies have been corrected. institutions or family or group daycare homes can be removed from the list early if outstanding debt is repaid and a request is submitted to the state agency with documentation of corrective action taken. In turn, permanent demar could be a substantial departure and there are important unanswered questions about how in entities could appeal the secretary's decision.
▶ 1:20:31Fraud in any federal grant program is always unacceptable, but there's no evidence that there's any widespread fraud in the child care sector. This bill vests more power in the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exercise discretion without providing any additional funding for oversight or technical assistance. Urge my colleagues to vote no on the bill and uh no on the this this amendment in nature of a substitute. I yield back.
▶ 1:21:00Gentleman yields. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of substitute?
▶ 1:21:10There being no further discussion on the amendment and the nature of substitute, the committee will move to consideration amendments. Are there any members who wish who would like to offer amendments?
▶ 1:21:21Gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member. Do you wish to offer an
▶ 1:21:24Uh, I have an amendment at the desk_2. The clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 1:21:31Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7723 offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia, identifier Scott_h7723AM_00002.
▶ 1:21:42Does the gentleman from Utah reserve point of order?
▶ 1:21:45Mr. Chairman, I'd like to reserve a point of order.
▶ 1:21:46Point of order is reserved. I now recognize the gentleman for Virginia for 5 minutes in support of his amendment.
▶ 1:21:52Thank you, M. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, HR 7723 requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to permanently debar child care providers receiving federal financial assistance under CDC CCC DBG that are found to have committed fraud. While the Secretary is already currently required to review and monitor state compliance, this bill would require the secretary to investigate fraud, a responsibility usually done by law enforcement, inspector generals, and the states.
▶ 1:22:22My Republican colleagues have latched on to the Trump administration's rhetoric around fraud, using it to target social service and health programs, including child care assistance, despite no evidence of any widespread fraud in any of those systems.
▶ 1:22:36current statute and federal regulations already include processes to place in place to identify fraud and remove institutions or family or group daycare homes that are non-compliant with federal regulations and processes already exist within CCDBG program to report fraud, collaborate with law enforcement and incentivize states to lower improper payment rates.
▶ 1:23:01What is frustrating is that the Republicans acknowledge the importance of uh comprehensive proactive oversight, but they have not acknowledged that the current administration's actions, which include firing more than half the oversight staff at the Office of Child Care last year, will make it actually more difficult to root out fraud in the future. Fraud in any federal program is always unacceptable, but there's no again no evidence that there's any more in this sector than any other.
▶ 1:23:30So this amendment will restore the structure, functions, staffing and responsibilities of the office of child care because both comprehensive oversight and support for these programs are important and American families are counting on us to ensure that the CDC CCC DBG continues to be a success. And so the amendment puts the staff in place to actually do the work uh that people that have been fired. And if we want fraud to be detected, we have to have somebody to actually detect it.
▶ 1:24:00I hope we'd adopt the amendment and I yield back.
▶ 1:24:04I thank the gentleman. Does the gentleman from Utah wish to reserve his point of order?
▶ 1:24:08I reserve I withdraw my point of order.
▶ 1:24:10A point of order is with the reservation is with withdrawn. Does anyone else seek recognition on the
▶ 1:24:22Mr. Chairman,
▶ 1:24:23gentle lady from North Carolina, Miss Fox, do you wish to be recognized?
▶ 1:24:28Mr. Chairman, I I'm really astonished to hear our colleagues play down this issue of fraud in these uh programs funded by federal taxpayers. Uh you know, my position would be we don't we should not be doing this at all from the federal government level. I don't read in the constitution anywhere that it says federal government should be running child care programs or funding child care programs.
▶ 1:24:59And um while I don't know exactly the number of employees in health and human services that need to be there to fund these programs. I think the main point of this um of my bill is to bring substantial penalties to these programs.
▶ 1:25:25So we will even attempting fraud at the state level. Again, number one, we shouldn't be funding the programs. Number two, if there is fraud, let's show people that the punishment will fit the crime and that we defund them.
▶ 1:25:47I don't think putting more people in the office at the secretar's level or in the division is going to to do anything to help our case. We need to just show people there's a penalty for committing fraud and and debar these programs, disbar the programs from being in existence. So I oppose the addition of employees.
▶ 1:26:14I just don't think that's the the angle that we need to be taking and I yield back.
▶ 1:26:21I thank the gentle lady. Does anyone else seek recognition on the amendment? Seeing none, the question is on the amendment by the gentleman from Virginia. All in favor say I.
▶ 1:26:39All oppose. No.
▶ 1:26:42In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed to. A roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this vote will be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the amendment in nature of a substitute to There being no further amendments, uh the question now occurs on the amendment
▶ 1:27:12in the nature of substitute to HR 7723. 11 minutes. So, we're postponing action.
▶ 1:27:24Uh, further action on HR7723 is postponed. We'll now move to consider the next bill. The committee will now proceed to consideration of of bill HR724 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill. HR7724, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to sustain to sustain sanctions against non-compliant state under such act.
▶ 1:27:54Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Wilson, for what purpose do you seek to be
▶ 1:28:11Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. H7724-s no waiverss for fraud act.
▶ 1:28:18Uh the clerk shall designate the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:28:21Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7724 offered by Mr. Wilson of South Carolina identifier H7724_s.
▶ 1:28:31Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of a substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. Wilson for 5 minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:28:46Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree very much with Chairwoman Dr. Virginia Fox what she has expressed that waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers dollars must be held to account. A is for accountability. Additionally, we should understand as they divert money uh for fraud, it takes away services to the people who need it. Uh and so it's just inconceivable that we would make every effort to stop fraud so that we can have legitimate programs succeed. There must be consequences.
▶ 1:29:15Sanctions for such actions exist for a reason and they already exist in the child care and development block grant program. The secretary may impose sanctions against the state for fraud or non-compliance. That's only right. But CCDBG rules also allow these sanctions to be waved if a state requits a request. That's wrong.
▶ 1:29:41Therefore, I have introduced HR724, the no waiverss for fraud act, which would strike the secretary's ability to wave sanctions imposed upon a state. It's appropriate to eliminate this waiver authority because sanctions are only put in place for a formal review when something goes wrong. States like Minnesota should fix the problem but not ask for a free pass. Can you imagine?
▶ 1:30:07And this amendment is the nature of a substitute makes a technical change to the bill. I wholeheartedly believe in dismantling the sanctioned invasion at the international level and the same should be held true for states seeking to evade responsibility for waste, fraud, and abuse of federal taxpayer dollars at the local level. And indeed the Republicans and uh we want our Democrat friends to join us. We are the ones compassionate.
▶ 1:30:34We want to have programs that work, not have programs that the funds are diverted to uh greedy uh persons who take advantage of the program. With that, I urge passage of the No Waiver for Fraud Act. Fraud and non-compliance deserve recompense. I yield back.
▶ 1:30:52Thank the gentlemen. Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and nature of a substitute? Um the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Scott, would you wish to be recognized?
▶ 1:31:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to second last word.
▶ 1:31:06You're recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:31:07Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Fraud and child care should be taken seriously, not politicized. During the course of this markup, Republicans have proposed bills that overall have the potential to cause states to spend more of their child care funds on administrative expenses and punish states and child care providers for administrative and human errors and reduce the supply of child care available to families.
▶ 1:31:31The real crisis in child care is the fact that there's that it has been underfunded for decades, leading to an inadequate supply of programs, high cost to families, and low wages for providers who are disproportionately women of color.
▶ 1:31:46According to the most recently available data from the HHS assistant secretary for planning and valuation, only 15% of federally eligible children are currently receiving subsidies under Furthermore, this is this inadequate supply and funding to serve all Furthermore, there is inadequate supply and funding to serve all children in need of care.
▶ 1:32:09This bill changes a provision under the current CCDBG statute that allows for state relief from enforcement actions. The change would remove the ability of the secretary to wave sanctions being imposed on states, removing discretion from the secretary and requiring the imposition of sanctions in certain in instances.
▶ 1:32:29Taking away flexibilities that HHS currently has to work with uh states to improve the program ties the secretary's hands, eliminating the ability to proactively engage with states when they are making meaningful progress towards improving uh the integrity of their programs. And so this program risks requiring states to be excessively sanctioned at a whim of the current administration. So I urge my colleagues to vote no on the bill and know the amendment nature of a substitute. I yield back.
▶ 1:33:00I thank the gentlemen. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute? There being no further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute, the committee will move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who wish to offer Recognize the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott, for
▶ 1:33:25Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk um Od_1.
▶ 1:33:33The clerk will report the amendment. Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7724 offered by Mr. Scott of Virginia identifier Scott_H7724
▶ 1:33:47Does the gentleman from Utah reserve a point of order?
▶ 1:33:49Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of
▶ 1:33:51A point of order is reserved. I now recognize gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott, for 5 minutes in support of his amendment.
▶ 1:33:58Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gentlemen, would reduce the secretary's discretion to provide relief for states in the event that a state is found to be non-compliant with the state plan or with CCDBG statute of regulations. [snorts] The bill makes it more likely that families and states, even those making improvements and changes, could be abruptly cut off from child care assistance. Fundamentally, the challenge of child care is of supply. the supply of affordable accessible care for parents.
▶ 1:34:29This uh amendment would instead of creating uncertainty for child care providers and increasing prices for parents, make significant investments in improving the supply of child care in this country. The grants created by this amendment could be used to increase provider wages, cover operational expenses, improve care quality, helping providers and communities overcome steep startup costs, retain experienced educators, and expand facilities to serve even more children.
▶ 1:34:58These are the types of investments, federal investments that can address the shortage of affordable, accessible child care for all families. So I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and I yield back the balance of my time.
▶ 1:35:11I thank the gentleman. Does the gentleman from Utah reserve his point of
▶ 1:35:14I insist on the point of order, Mr.
▶ 1:35:16The gentleman will state the point of
▶ 1:35:19Uh the point of order is that the amendment is not germanine.
▶ 1:35:26Does any member wish to be heard on the point of order?
▶ 1:35:30Uh Gerine said the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member.
▶ 1:35:34Well, Mr. Chairman, the um um underlying bill cuts um supply. This amendment will make investments and make child care more affordable and more accessible. I don't see how that can possibly be non-gerane to the discussion today. I yield back.
▶ 1:35:55I'm prepared to rule on the point of order and we'll find that the amendment is not germanine to the legislation before us. Does gentleman wish to withdraw the amendment
▶ 1:36:07rather than make you Mr. Chairman? I I I do recognize it was on the edge of geraness and so I withdraw the amendment.
▶ 1:36:20I've always appreciated about the ranking member. The amendment is Does anyone else seek to offer amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute?
▶ 1:36:51There being no further amendments, the question now occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7724. All in favor say I. I all oppose. No.
▶ 1:37:05In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment in the nature of substitute is agreed to.
▶ 1:37:14There being no further amendments and further action on HR 7724 being postponed. We will now move to consider the next bill. The committee will now proceed to consideration of of bill HR7725 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill.
▶ 1:37:41HR 7725, a bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states disclose agency regulatory participation under such act.
▶ 1:37:51Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Rule, for what purpose do you seek recognition,
▶ 1:38:09chairman? I have an amendment at the desk titled H7725_.
▶ 1:38:15Uh, the clerk shall designate the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:38:19Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7725 offered by Mr. Rouley of Ohio. identifier H7725
▶ 1:38:27Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of a substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. Rouley for five minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:38:42Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm proud to have this committee consider my bill the Stop Child Care Fraud Act, a sensible fix to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the child care development blank block grant program. My bill requires states to streamline agency data points to identify potential child care fraud by grant recipients. When agencies don't coordinate, we miss major red flags.
▶ 1:39:10In Ohio, we've already used the cross agency's tools to identify these types of frauds. But Ohio and the country must do more to stop fraudsters and bad actors in this field.
▶ 1:39:22Childc care programs exist to support working families, not line the pockets of fraudsters. With this, I urge all my colleagues, especially on the other sides of the aisle, to support this bill and strengthen strengthen integrity and safeguard taxpayer dollars. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield my time
▶ 1:39:41I thank the gentleman. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute? ranking member, Mr. Scott, you be do you wish to be recognized?
▶ 1:39:57Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to the last word.
▶ 1:39:59You're recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:40:01Mr. Chairman, this bill requires state plans under the child care and development block grant to include a description of the state's internal controls, processes, and procedures to prevent fraud. I understand that the majority of the information is already required to be included in the state plans.
▶ 1:40:18And so the this plan [snorts] would also need to include a description of how the state quote utilizes data within and across other state and local agencies that have oversight of child care providers to serve children under Currently, state plans are organized in the following sections. CCDF program uh child and family eligibility enrollment and continuing of care.
▶ 1:40:45Childcare affordability, parental choice, equal access, payment rates, payment practices, health and safety of child care settings, support of a skilled, qualified and comp compensated child care workforce, quality improvement of activities, uh lead agency coordination and partnership to support service [clears throat] delivery, family outreach and consumer education, and program integrity and accountability.
▶ 1:41:11These plans are then reviewed by the Office of Child Care for completeness, responsiveness, clarity, and consistency. The Office of Childare then uses these plans to guide oversight of each child care, each state's child care program.
▶ 1:41:25Now, I want to raise once again that over the course of the past year, President Trump has fired more than half of the Office of Child Care's oversight staff as well as significant portions of its grant management staff and regional staff office staff along with the inspector's general. So, the question is who's going to do the oversight?
▶ 1:41:49But nevertheless, I encourage my colleagues to vote yes on the bill and yes on the amend on on the amendment nature of substitute and hope we'll be able to work with my colleagues across the aisle to restore the capacity of the office of child care to ensure that the program integrity is maintained and states are not unnecessarily delayed in their receipt of funding. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
▶ 1:42:13I thank the gentleman. Uh are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute? There being no further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute, the committee will move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who would like to offer
▶ 1:42:35Um Mr. Chairman,
▶ 1:42:37I will briefly suspend.
▶ 1:42:39Thank you. Yeah, exactly.
▶ 1:43:53We'll resume resume our discussion on Are there any members who wish to continue discussion on seeing none, are there any members who would like to offer amendments? Uh, Representative Lee, the gentle lady from Pennsylvania, do you seek to be
▶ 1:44:22Uh, yes, Mr. Chairman. Can I have an amendment at the desk?
▶ 1:44:25The clerk will designate the amendment.
▶ 1:44:27Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7725 offered by Miss Lee of Pennsylvania identifier Lee_H7725AM_00005.
▶ 1:44:39Does a gentleman from Utah uh reserve a point of order?
▶ 1:44:42Uh reserve a point of order, Mr.
▶ 1:44:44Point of order is reserved. I now recognize the gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Lee, uh for five minutes in support of her amendment.
▶ 1:44:52Thank you, Mr. Chairman, uh, Republicans are having us mark up eight bills today because of a random self-proclaimed fraud vigilantes YouTube video that's full of disinformation and xenophobic clickbait. Yet, [snorts] our constituents have repeatedly begged us for affordable, accessible, highquality child care. Um, it is not enough to get a single bill marked up in this committee.
▶ 1:45:17We are in [snorts] a child care crisis and the best Republicans can do is introduce a destructive solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence of widespread widespread child care fraud. And what's worse, most of the bills we're marking up today to address fraud that isn't even happening will make the child care crisis worse. Child care works, my state's subsidy program, is a lifeline for families.
▶ 1:45:43But nearly 70% of the kids in my district who are eligible don't receive subsidized child care. In part because there simply aren't enough child care slots. And there isn't enough funding. And now Republicans are trying to divert the limited funding there is to pay for redundant, burdensome, and unnecessary requirements when what we really need are actual solutions to the child care crisis. HR 7725 codifies requirements that states already comply with.
▶ 1:46:14So, while it's not actively harmful like most of the other bills we're marking up today, it doesn't really do anything new to support families. My amendment would actually help families access the child care they need. It would ensure that they don't spend more than 7% of their income on child care co-pays and families earning below 85% of the state median income would get child care for free.
▶ 1:46:36In addition to passing my amendment today, we should be marking up the full child care for working families act, which would make child care more affordable, pay uh early child care educators a living wage, and increase the number of child care slots. We should also mark up the Head Start for Americans children, America's children act to expand Head Start to 11 million children.
▶ 1:46:59And ultimately, we need universal child care um and preschool like so many other wealthy countries who actually care about and are willing to invest in their youngest constituents and residents and families. And let's be clear, if preventing potential fraud was an actual priority for this administration, they wouldn't have fired 12 inspectors generals, uh, the job literally created to prevent fraud and federal programs.
▶ 1:47:27And they wouldn't have fired half of the Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start staff, the people who ensure that child care programs operate with integrity. And how often do we sit in these hearings and ask our Republican colleagues to do something about corporations committing fraud against workers? How often do we ask them to do something about wage theft, private equity, uh, an authoritarian president?
▶ 1:47:51But conservatives only bring up fraud when they want to refocus the national narrative on their xenophobic crusade against immigrants instead of talking about rising costs or healthc care uh cuts or state sanctioned murders, the Epstein fouls, war. But we won't be distracted because Americans deserve better. My amendment would turn this bill into something lifechanging for families.
▶ 1:48:20Republicans have a real opportunity here to do something about the child care crisis and help the American people. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on my amendment and I yield back.
▶ 1:48:32I thank the gentle lady. Does gentleman from Utah insist on the point of order?
▶ 1:48:35I'll withdraw my point of order.
▶ 1:48:36The reservation is withdrawn. Does anyone else seek recognition on the The question is on the amendment by the gentle lady from Pennsylvania. All in favor say I.
▶ 1:48:58All oppose. No.
▶ 1:49:01In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed
▶ 1:49:08A roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this vote will be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7725? No further amendments. So further action on HR 7725 is postponed. We'll now move to consider the next bill.
▶ 1:49:38The committee will now proceed to consideration of HR7677 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the a bill to require the comproller general of the United States to conduct a study regarding fraud prevention measures in certain federal early childhood education, child care, and child nutrition programs and for other purposes. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with.
▶ 1:50:09Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Owens, for what purpose do you seek to be recogn?
▶ 1:50:26The clerk shall designate the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:50:29Amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7677 offered by Mr. Owens of Utah identifier GAO NS_01.
▶ 1:50:38Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of a substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Mr. Owens for five minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:50:53Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh have been a proud supporter of the child care development block uh grant program since coming to Congress. Providing childcare assistance for working families is not only a family issue, it's a workforce issue as well. On the whole, child care is an economic driver. Uh but in the 2002 report of the government accounting office, CCDBG, it was identified as a program at risk of significant improper payments.
▶ 1:51:20While some improvements and protections have been made and millions of children have been served over the last 20 years, 25 years, more can be done. What's that's why I'm introducing HR 7677 the closing the provider fraud gap act to direct GAO to again report on the effectiveness of fraud prevention measures in early childhood education and grant uh and care grant programs under this committee's juris juris this amendment is in the nature of a substitute makes a technical change to
▶ 1:51:50the bill as billions and taxpayer dollars flow directly to providers we need a full picture of where the fraud can be can slip through cracks. CCDBG, the child and adult care food program and Head Start are at the a part of this uh ecosystem and with money continued to go out the door through these programs, we should understand where the system can be gamed and fixed. With that, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back.
▶ 1:52:16I thank the gentleman. Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute?
▶ 1:52:24Mr. Chairman,
▶ 1:52:25the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott, do you wish to be
▶ 1:52:28Mr. Chairman, I move to take the last
▶ 1:52:31You're recognized for five minutes.
▶ 1:52:32Mr. Chairman, HR 7677 requires the GAO to conduct a study regarding fraud prevention measures and federal early childhood education, child care, child nutrition programs, including Head Start, CACFP, and the CCDBG programs.
▶ 1:52:50Uh the bill does not explicitly explicitly name other programs such as the child care access means parents in schools, the CC campus program or [snorts] the summer food service program among others which ensure parents are able to make ends meet and ensure children are cared for in safe and appropriate environments. I assume the JAL will focus on those important programs. Uh two, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill and yield back the balance of my time.
▶ 1:53:20I thank the gentleman. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute? There being no further discussion on the amendment and the nature of substitute, the committee will move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who would like to offer amendments? The gentleman from New York, Mr. Manion, do you have an amendment to offer? Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have an amendment at the desk, manion_amd_02.
▶ 1:53:50The clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 1:53:53Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7677 offered by Mr. Manion of New York identifier Manion AMD_02.
▶ 1:54:02Does the gentleman from Utah reserve a point of order?
▶ 1:54:05I reserve a point of order, Mr.
▶ 1:54:06Point of order is reserved. I now recognize the gentleman from New York, Mr. Manion for 5 minutes in support of his amendment.
▶ 1:54:13Thank you, Mr. Chair. My amendment calls for a comprehensive federal study on the root causes of child care shortages and the high costs that families are facing. This independent, nonpartisan study completed by the GAO would also examine ways that federal child care investments can help. One of these investments is USDA's child and adult care food program, which reimbures child care centers for nutritious meals and snacks provided to kids.
▶ 1:54:41My amendment would give us better insight into how the program is working to keep our kids healthy and provide muchneeded relief to our child care providers. I'm a longtime advocate for child nutrition programs and as a state senator, I helped expand New York's popular free school meals program. Helping child care centers offer healthy meals is critical and my amendment would allow us to study this further.
▶ 1:55:06I've also helped secure historic child care funding and address child care deserts in the state and have seen the impact positively of these investments. This is a common sense amendment that moves us in the right direction when it comes to improving child care access and affordability. I hear from parents all the time who are stuck on long wait lists, have limited options, or simply cannot afford child care at all.
▶ 1:55:31And our child care providers and workers face no shortage of challenges either, including tight budgets and significant workforce gaps. We need a fair and comprehensive analysis that reveals where exactly the problems lie within our system so that we can take action, including making sure that we address fraudulent behavior, which must be emphasized.
▶ 1:55:55The underlying bill already calls for a GAO study, which is focused on that fraud prevention. I hope my Republican colleagues will agree with me on this point. If we're studying fraud pre prevention in child care, which we should and continuously occurs, then we absolutely should be studying the larger systematic problems facing the industry and placing enormous financial strain on families.
▶ 1:56:22This is what parents are concerned with and they're expecting us to deliver on affordability, including in child care. The report I propose would serve as an important nonpartisan resource.
▶ 1:56:35I intend to support the underlying bill, but I also ask that my colleagues um support my amendment in a bipartisan way as the people and the families in child care that work there and the children that we conser that we serve come from all families, all political backgrounds, Democratic and Republican. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for this opportunity and I yield back.
▶ 1:57:00I thank the gentleman. Does the gentleman from Utah insist on a point of order? I withdraw my board of order.
▶ 1:57:05The reservation is withdrawn. Does anyone anyone else seek recognition on the amendment?
▶ 1:57:13The question then is on the amendment by the gentleman from New York. All in favor say I.
▶ 1:57:19All oppose, no. No.
▶ 1:57:23In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed
▶ 1:57:28Mr. Chair, can I request a recorded vote, please? A roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcement, this vote will be Are there any further amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute? Further action on HR 7677 is postponed.
▶ 1:57:50We will now move to consider the next The committee will now proceed to consideration of bill HR7726 for amendment. The bill was circulated in advance and printed copies are available. The clerk shall designate the bill. a bill to amend the Childare and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to withhold funds from non-compliance states under such act.
▶ 1:58:16Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point and any amendment shall offered shall be considered as read. Does anyone seek to be recognized? Representative Miller, for what purpose do you seek to be recognized?
▶ 1:58:34Mr. Chairman, excuse [clears throat] me. I have an amendment at the desk title titled H7726_s.
▶ 1:58:43The clerk shall designate the amendment in the nature of a substitute. Amendment in nature of substitute to HR7726 offered by Miss Miller of Illinois identifier H7726_s.
▶ 1:58:57Without objection, the amendment shall be considered original text for purposes of further amendment. The amendment in the nature of a substitute has already been distributed. I now recognize Miss Miller for five minutes to explain the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
▶ 1:59:12Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Fraud and non-compliance have no place in our federal programs, especially when these programs are meant to assist children and working families. That is why I've introduced HR 7726, the no funds for repeat child care violations act, a very short and simple bill to enforce the child care and development block grant program integrity.
▶ 1:59:41If a state fails to address fraud or repeated non-compliance, there must be real consequences. My bill simply replaces may with shall regarding the withholding of funds under such circumstances.
▶ 1:59:57This amendment in the nature of a substitute makes a technical change to the bill ensuring that accountability for taxpayer dollars is not optional but a sensible, responsible, and moral choice to protect the working families who contribute to our communities. I'm glad to see President Trump's administration take fraud seriously. I urge my colleagues to do the same and pass this bill and I yield back. I thank the gentle lady.
▶ 2:00:28Are there any members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment in the nature of a substitute? I recognize gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, Mr. Scott.
▶ 2:00:39Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to second last word.
▶ 2:00:42Recognized [clears throat] for five
▶ 2:00:43Thank you, Mr. Chairman. HR7726 makes a seemingly small but major change under the administration enforcement section of CCDBG's statute requiring the secretary to impose other appropriate sanctions and disqualify states from CBC CCDBG in an instance of finding of non-compliance. There's no evidence of widespread fraud in federal in with federal child care funds.
▶ 2:01:10The real crisis is the fact that there's been underfund that the program has been underfunded for decades leading to an inadequate supply of programs, high cost to families, and low wages to providers. Nonetheless, fraud and health care should be taken seriously, not politicized.
▶ 2:01:28Republicans have proposed bills that overall have the potential to cause states to spend more of their child care funds or administrative costs, reducing the supply of child care available to families and punishing states and childcare providers for administrative and human errors. Families want access to care and help making ends meet while raising young families.
▶ 2:01:51This proposal would remove the discretion from the secretary part potentially making it more likely that states would be disqualified from uh from CCDBG. And let's be clear, a state being disqualified from CCDBG means the entire state would be cut off from the program. Thousands of families being left in the lurch.
▶ 2:02:12While there are there may be of course situations where an entire state may be pressured to improve a program integrity and subject to comprehensive oversight, cutting off all families in a state from assistance is not a move that should be taken lightly. Unfortunately, this proposal lacks nuance and would undermine families access to care. So, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the amendment nature substitute and the yield back.
▶ 2:02:44The gentleman yields. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized for further discussion on the amendment and the nature of a substitute? There be no further discussion on the amendment and nature of substitute. The committee will move to consideration of amendments. Are there any members who would like to offer an amendment? Does the gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member, wish to offer an
▶ 2:03:07Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a minute at the desk um
▶ 2:03:16The clerk will report the amendment.
▶ 2:03:19Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR7726 offered by Mr. Scott Virginia identifier
▶ 2:03:32Does the gentleman from Utah reserve a point of order?
▶ 2:03:35I reserve a point of order, Mr. A point of order is reserved. I now recognize gentleman from Virginia, the ranking member for five minutes in support of his amendment.
▶ 2:03:44Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the goal of this amendment is to prevent ICE enforcement activity at child care child care centers. During this administration, we've seen unprecedented immigration enforcement actions at and near places that were previously understood to be off limits, like schools and child care centers. Trump administration's immigration raids near child care centers have traumatized children and communities and placed heavy burdens on teachers and caregivers.
▶ 2:04:11If we want to create safe environments for children and families, we should not be allowing mass armed federal agents to enter these spaces. Parents should not have to fear deportation or incarceration while picking up children in daycare. Children should not have to fear that their parents might not come home.
▶ 2:04:30And citizens and totally documented children should not be traumatized watching all this enforcement and their um their their school colleagues being whisked away by armed mask agents citizens watching that and that's creates a mental health situation that we're not even addressing. My amendment would require HHS would to work with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent enforcement at daycare centers.
▶ 2:05:00This will ensure that all children and families regardless of their immigration status can receive safe quality child care. Urge your adoption of the amendment and yield back the balance of my time.
▶ 2:05:12I thank the gentleman. Does the uh gentleman from Utah insist on a point of
▶ 2:05:17I'd like to reserve my point of order.
▶ 2:05:18Reservation is withdrawn. Does anyone else seek uh recognition on the I yield myself such time as I may consume. This amendment would require a memorandum of understanding between HHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and uh the Customs and Border Patrol offices to not enter child care centers.
▶ 2:05:47This amendment really is outside of the scope of what our committee should be considering. We are not the committee that oversees federal law enforcement We're also not on the ground observing law enforcement activities. As such, we should not be considering amendments that would potentially interfere with law enforcement efforts on the ground or set a president a precedent for legislating in areas largely outside of this committee's jurisdiction.
▶ 2:06:14And so for that reason I uh intend to oppose the amendment. Does anyone else seek recognition on the Seeing none. Uh the question is on the amendment by the gentleman from Virginia. All in favor say I.
▶ 2:06:33All oppose. No. No. In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it and the amendment is not agreed to. A roll call vote is ordered. Pursuant to the chair's previous announcements, this vote will be postponed. Are there any further amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute Further action on HR 7726 is postponed.
▶ 2:07:02Pursuant to the previous order, the chair declares the committee in recess. subject to the call of the chair. We expect to reconvene promptly at 2 pm. Thank you. Uh the committee stands in
▶ 3:55:24Uh the committee will reconvene and uh come to order following our recess. Uh we will proceed to postpone requests for recorded votes. Uh you might want to, I believe, press your on button on your clicker here to make sure it's engaged. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment the nature of a substitute to HR7720.
▶ 3:55:53The amendment offered by Mr. Scott title uh H7720 AM 004. Recorded vote is requested. Members will record votes using electronic voting system. Please open the vote. The finger wandered.
▶ 3:56:40Energy is not coming. She is not.
▶ 3:56:46Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, the clerk will please close the vote and announce the tally.
▶ 3:57:01Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 15 yays and 19 nazs.
▶ 3:57:05The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute to HR All in favor say I.
▶ 3:57:20I. All oppose. No. No.
▶ 3:57:24In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment in the nature of substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill HR720 to the House of Representatives with amendment and with recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 3:57:47All oppose. No.
▶ 3:57:49In the opinion of a chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to.
▶ 3:57:54Recorded vote has been requested. Um members will record their votes using electronic voting system. I'd ask the clerk to open the vote. Have all members been recorded who
▶ 3:58:25wish to be recorded? It's not coming back.
▶ 3:58:46Do any members wish to change their
▶ 3:58:49Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote, announce the tally?
▶ 3:58:52Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 19 yays and 15 nazs. The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to HR 7720 as amended and the accompanying materials shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment and nature of the substitute to HR7721. The amendment offered by Mr. Scott title Scott H7721 007.
▶ 3:59:23A recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 3:59:53Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 15 yays and 19 nays.
▶ 3:59:57The amendment is not adopted.
▶ 4:00:00The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute HR7721. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:00:08All oppose, no.
▶ 4:00:10In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment and the nature of the substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill HR 7721 to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:00:31I. All oppose. No.
▶ 4:00:34In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:00:39Recorded vote is requested. Members will record their vote using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Do all have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:01:03Mr. Chairman, on this vote there are 19 ys and 15 nazs.
▶ 4:01:07The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. HR 7721 as amended and the accompanying material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute The amendment offered by Mr. Desal uh titled Dalier H7722 A recorded vote is requested.
▶ 4:01:35Members will record their votes using an electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their vote? Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the
▶ 4:01:57Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 15 yays and 19 nays.
▶ 4:02:00The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute HR7722. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 4:02:10All oppose. No.
▶ 4:02:12In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it, an amendment in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I. I all oppose. No.
▶ 4:02:34In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:02:38Recorded vote is requested. Members record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their hearing none. Will the clerk please close the vote and announce the ch
▶ 4:03:03Mr. Chairman, on this vote there are 20s and 15 nays.
▶ 4:03:06The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to HR 7722 as amended and the accompanying material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that the quorum is present. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute HR7723. The amendment offered by Mr. Scott title Scott H7723 A recorded vote is requested.
▶ 4:03:35Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:04:00Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 15 yays and 20 nazs.
▶ 4:04:02The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute to HR 7723. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 4:04:12All oppose, no.
▶ 4:04:14In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment and the nature of a substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:04:35All oppose, no.
▶ 4:04:37In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:04:41A recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using an electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded.
▶ 4:04:59She's fine. She's fine.
▶ 4:05:02All right.
▶ 4:05:03Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:05:09Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 20s and 15 nazs.
▶ 4:05:12The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. uh HR7723 as amended and the accompanying materials shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. I hereby move that the committee report the bill HR7724 to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:05:40All oppose, no.
▶ 4:05:42In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. The motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:05:52A recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote.
▶ 4:06:08Have all members been recorded or wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their vote? Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:06:17Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 20 and 15 nays.
▶ 4:06:20The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. HR 7724 as amended and the company material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that the quorum is
▶ 4:06:33We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7725. The amendment is offered by Miss Lee title Lee H7725 A recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded?
▶ 4:07:05Do any members wish to change their vote? Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce a tally?
▶ 4:07:13Mr. Chairman, on this vote there are 15 nays and 20 nazs.
▶ 4:07:16The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of the substitute to HR 7725. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 4:07:25All oppose, no.
▶ 4:07:27In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill to the House of Representatives with the amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on chair's motion. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:07:48All oppose. No. In the opinion of the chair the eyes have it. Then the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:07:55Recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:08:23Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 35 yays and zero nazs.
▶ 4:08:26The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. HR 7725 as amended and the accompanying material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment and the nature of a substitute to HR7677. A recorded vote is requested. Me uh excuse me, the amendment offered by Mr. Manion title Manion AMD02. A recorded vote is requested.
▶ 4:08:56Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their vote? Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:09:16Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 15 yays and 20 nays.
▶ 4:09:19The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute to HR 7677. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. No. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. An amendment in in the nature of a substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill HR7677 to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass.
▶ 4:09:48The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I.
▶ 4:09:53All oppose. No. In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. Then the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:09:58Recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:10:21Mr. Chairman, on this vote there are 35 yays and zero nays.
▶ 4:10:24The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. HR 7677 as amended and the accompanying material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. We'll now be voting on one amendment to the amendment and the nature of a substitute to HR7726. The amendment offered by Mr. Scott title Scott 87726 AM00001 a recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using electronic voting system.
▶ 4:10:54Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded? Do any members wish to change their Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:11:12Mr. Mr. Chairman, on this vote there is 16 ys and 19 nazs.
▶ 4:11:16The amendment is not adopted. The question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of the substitute to HR 7726. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 4:11:26All oppose. No.
▶ 4:11:28In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment and the nature of a substitute is agreed to. I hereby move that the committee report the bill HR7726 to the House of Representatives with amendment and with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass. The question now occurs on the chair's motion. All in favor say I. I.
▶ 4:11:49All oppose. No.
▶ 4:11:50In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the motion is agreed to.
▶ 4:11:54A recorded vote is requested. Members will record their votes using the electronic voting system. Please open the vote. Have all members been recorded who wish to be recorded?
▶ 4:12:10Do any members wish to change their
▶ 4:12:13Hearing none, will the clerk please close the vote and announce the tally?
▶ 4:12:16Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are 20 and 15 nays.
▶ 4:12:20The eyes have it and the motion is agreed to. HR 7726 as amended and the company material shall be transmitted to the House of Representatives. The chair notes for the record that a quorum is present. I ask ask unanimous consent that staff be authorized to make necessary technical and conforming changes to today's bills without objection so ordered.
▶ 4:12:40Pursuant to House Rule 11 clause 2L I give notice that all members have OP have the requisite number of days to file supplemental minority additional or desending views without objection so ordered. Without objection, any member who wishes to insert materials into the record may do so by submitting them to the committee clerk electronically by the end of the day today. If there's no further business before the committee and appearing none, without objection, the committee stands adjourned.