July 22, 2026
Ms. Escobar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To direct the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the workforce, readiness, and policy challenges associated with military child care and military child development centers, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Military Spouse Employment and Child Care Readiness Act
.
Sec. 2. Report on strengthening the military child care workforce
(a) In general
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing workforce, readiness, and policy challenges associated with military child care and military child development centers.
(b) Contents
The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
An analysis of the current workforce of military child development centers, including—
(A)
the percentage of employees who are military spouses; and
(B)
the percentage of employees who are spouses of retired or separated members of the Armed Forces.
(2)
A feasibility assessment of increasing the transferability of licenses or certifications for military spouses employed at military child development centers when accompanying a service member on a permanent change of station.
(3)
An assessment of vacancy rates across military child development centers and the reasons for such vacancies.
(4)
An assessment of the number of additional children who could be served by military child development centers if such centers were fully staffed.
(5)
A feasibility assessment of permitting military spouses residing in on-post housing to provide childcare within their homes under a supervisory program coordinated by a military child development center.
(6)
Recommendations for incentives to attract and retain military spouses in the military child care workforce, including—
(A)
professional development opportunities;
(B)
stipend or subsidy programs; and
(C)
flexible scheduling options.
(c) Congressional defense committees defined
In this section, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.