H.R. 3155

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the employer-provided child care credit.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 1, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Kustoff · Committee: Committee on Ways and Means

H.R. 3155

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Child Care for American Families Act.

SEC. 2. Increase in employer-provided child care credit amount

Increase in employer-provided child care credit amount
(a) In general
- of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 25 percentand inserting the applicable percentage. Section 45F(a)(1)
- In general
(b) Applicable percentage
- Section 45F(a) of such Code, as amended by subsection (a), is amended—
  - by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and by moving the margins of such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right,
  - by striking and inserting the following:
    - (1) Credit allowed
      - For purposes
    - (2) Applicable percentage
      - (A) In general
        
        For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the applicable percentage is—
        
        (i) except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, 40 percent,
        
        (ii) in the case of any qualified child care expenditures of an eligible small business, 50 percent, and
        
        (iii) in the case of any qualified child care expenditures paid or incurred in connection with a qualified child care facility located in an eligible area, 60 percent.
      - (B) Eligible small business
        
        For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible small business means, with respect to any taxable year, any taxpayer if the annual average number of employees employed by such person during either of the 2 preceding taxable years was 500 or fewer. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a preceding taxable year may be taken into account only if the taxpayer was in existence throughout the year.
      - (C) Eligible area
        
        (i) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible area means—
        
        a census tract described in section 45D(e), or
        
        a rural county.
        
        (ii) Rural county
        
        For purposes of this subparagraph, the term rural county means a county in which greater than 50 percent of the population of such county resides in census blocks that are designated as rural blocks (as determined by the Bureau of the Census according to the most recent decennial census).
        
        For purposes of subclause (I), a rule similar to the rule of section 143(k)(2)(D) shall apply.
  - by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(c) Dollar limitation
- (b) Dollar limitation
  - (1) Aggregate limitation
    - The credit allowable under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed $1,200,000.
    - Aggregate limitation
  - (2) Limitation with respect to qualified child care expenditures
    - The aggregate amount of qualified child care expenditures which may be taken into account under this section for any taxable year shall not exceed $2,000,000.
- Section 45F(b) of such Code is amended to read as follows:
(d) Effective date
- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
- Effective date

SEC. 3. Guidance regarding multi-employer facilities

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: Section 45F
- (g) Guidance
  - The Secretary shall issue such guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including guidance on the application of this section to multi-employer facilities.

SEC. 4. Dissemination of information

(a) In general
- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall establish a public awareness program to inform taxpayers about—
- In general
  - the availability of the credit for employer-provided child care under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and section 45F
  - filing procedures for such credit.
(b) Method
- In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s delegate) shall use appropriate means of communication to ensure awareness by all taxpayers who are eligible for the credit allowed under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 45F

SEC. 5. GAO study on regulatory barriers affecting employer-provided child care

(a) In general
- Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the applicable Congressional committees a report examining—
  - State and local licensure and regulatory requirements affecting child care facilities;
  - compliance costs and operational barriers for child care providers, particularly with respect to providers operating in multiple States; and
  - opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining safety and quality standards, including how such improvements could enhance employer participation under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 45F
(b) Recommendations
- The report described in subsection (a) shall include recommendations for—
  - updating, expanding, or otherwise strengthening regulations affecting child care facilities;
  - enhancing uniformity across State regulatory frameworks to facilitate greater employer participation in providing high-quality child care;
  - reducing barriers for multi-employer facilities seeking to make use of the credit provided under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and section 45F
  - reducing barriers for multi-state operators seeking to qualify for the credit provided under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 45F
(c) Applicable Congressional committees
- For purposes of this section, the term applicable Congressional committees means—
  - the Committees on Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
  - the Committees on Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.