Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

1/11/2023, 1:27 PM

Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and (2) is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services.

Defines: (1) "covered health care services" to mean regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or such other intensive health care services to which the VA determines that provision of child care assistance would improve the veteran's access; and (2) "eligible veteran" as a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who is receiving covered health care services from the VA or who is in need of, and who would receive, such services from the VA but for lack of child care.

Includes among child care assistance to be provided under this Act:

  • a stipend for the payment of the full cost of child care offered by a licensed child care center, which shall be modeled after the VA's Child Care Subsidy Program;
  • direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility;
  • a payment made directly to a private child care agency; and
  • collaboration with a facility or program of another federal department or agency.
Congress
114

Number
HR - 1948

Introduced on
2015-04-22

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

4/22/2015

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and (2) is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services.

Defines: (1) "covered health care services" to mean regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or such other intensive health care services to which the VA determines that provision of child care assistance would improve the veteran's access; and (2) "eligible veteran" as a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who is receiving covered health care services from the VA or who is in need of, and who would receive, such services from the VA but for lack of child care.

Includes among child care assistance to be provided under this Act:

  • a stipend for the payment of the full cost of child care offered by a licensed child care center, which shall be modeled after the VA's Child Care Subsidy Program;
  • direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility;
  • a payment made directly to a private child care agency; and
  • collaboration with a facility or program of another federal department or agency.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving certain medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Policy Areas
Armed Forces and National Security

Potential Impact
Child care and development•
Mental health•
Veterans' medical care

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary7/9/2015

Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA ...


Latest Action5/11/2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.