Pappas Introduces the Rural Child Care Access Act
Today Congressman Chris Pappas introduced the Rural Child Care Access Act, legislation to help child care providers serving small and rural areas upgrade existing or construct new facilities and strengthen services by creating a new grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Affordable, accessible child care is essential to children’s development and learning, and parents’ ability to go to work. Yet 46% of people in New Hampshire live in a child care desert. In 2025 it was estimated that New Hampshire businesses lose $56 million annually due to the lack of available licensed child care slots.
“From my conversations with moms, dads, and providers across the state, I know child care remains among the most pressing issues that families are facing. We’ve got to tackle it head on,” said Congressman Pappas. “My new legislation, the Rural Child Care Access Act, would provide child care providers serving small and rural communities with federal resources to invest in their facilities, services, and staff. Strong child care services mean kids have a safe place to learn and grow while parents work and contribute to our economy. It’s fundamental to society, and we have to be making bigger steps in this space.”
“Child care businesses in New Hampshire operate on thin margins, with staffing costs eating up more than 70% of program expenditures, and little room for capital improvements. Representative Pappas’ Rural Child Care Access Act puts critical infrastructure projects in reach for child care businesses, while helping to advance improvements in care, provider supports, and community connections,” said Trina Ingelfinger, Early Care and Education Policy Director, New Futures, Concord, N.H.
The Rural Child Care Access Act would help new or existing child care facilities serving jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents upgrade their facilities. Eligible projects could receive up to $4 million in funding for infrastructure projects that would improve child care access, provider training and development, staff recruitment and retention, and community engagement.
Background:
Pappas continues to advocate for investments in child care to be made in New Hampshire, including $1 million in federal dollars he secured through the Congressional appropriations process to make enhancements to the Child Study and Development Center at UNH, help create an Early Child Institute for Excellence, and improve child care and education in New Hampshire. He has heldroundtable conversations with child care workers and New Hampshire families about the urgent need to address rising costs for families by making child care more affordable. In February, he introduced the bipartisan After Hours Child Care Act, which would improve access to affordable child care for parents working nontraditional hours.
Pappas fought for the original expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan and has continuously advocated for reinstating the expanded Child Tax Credit to help Granite State families make ends meet. It’s estimated that 34,000 more children in New Hampshire would benefit from reinstating the fully expanded Child Tax Credit.