I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3595
To amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to 
authorize financial assistance to permit infants to be cared for at home 
by parents. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2003
Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 
DELAHUNT, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, and Ms. LEE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990 to authorize financial assistance to permit 
infants to be cared for at home by parents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘At-Home Infant Care 
Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following:
(1) In the majority of American families, par-
ents, whether married or single, must work to pro-
vide economic security for their families and, not the 
least, for the infants newly welcomed into the family. 
Fifty-five percent of women with children less than 
1 year of age are part of the workforce, while 73 
percent of women with children 1 year of age or 
older are in the workforce. 
(2) Research shows that the quality and nature 
of care-taking in the first months and years of life 
are critical to a newborn’s subsequent brain develop-
ment, social development, and well-being. Healthy 
early development depends on nurturing and depend-
able relationships. 
(3) Research also shows that there is an ex-
treme shortage of quality, affordable child care for 
infants. Numerous studies document lack of infant 
care and, in particular, affordable care that meets 
basic health and safety standards, particularly in 
rural areas. The current number of licensed infant 
slots can only meet 18 percent of the potential need. 
The shortage is even more acute in rural areas, es-
pecially those with a high percentage of low-wage 
residents.
(4) For the well-being of American children, 
and for the economic security of the families on 
which they depend, working parents should be able 
to provide this care themselves without undermining 
family economic stability. 
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOP-
MENT BLOCK GRANT ACT OF 1990. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ 
after ‘‘subchapter’’, 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(a) In General.—’’ before 
‘‘There’’, and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) INFANT CARE AT HOME.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2005, 2006, 
and 2007 such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
section 658H.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION AND PLAN.—Section 658E(c) of 
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i) by inserting 
‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ after ‘‘sub-
chapter’’, and 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by inserting 
‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ after ‘‘sub-
chapter’’, and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(I) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—Certify 
that the State agrees that funds appropriated 
under section 658B for any period will be used 
to supplement, and not to supplant, non-Fed-
eral funds that in the absence of funds appro-
priated under section 658B would be made 
available to provide child care services and in-
fant care.’’, 
(2) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (B) by inserting 
‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ after ‘‘sub-
chapter’’, 
(B) in subparagraph (D) by inserting 
‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ after ‘‘sub-
chapter’’, and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) ASSISTANCE FOR INFANT CARE AT 
HOME.—If a State elects to receive funds ap-
propriated under section 658B(b) for a fiscal 
year, the State plan shall provide that the State 
will use such funds to carry out section 658H 
in accordance with the applicable requirements 
of this subchapter.’’, and 
(3) in paragraph (5) by inserting ‘‘and, if appli-
cable, by eligible parent caregivers who receive finan-
cial assistance provided under section 658H’’ before 
the period at the end. 
(c) ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CHILD 
CARE.—Section 658G of the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858e) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘(other than section 658H)’’ after ‘‘sub-
chapter’’. 
(d) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INFANT CARE PRO-
VIDED AT HOME BY PARENTS.—The Child Care and De-
velopment Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 658G the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 658H. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INFANT CARE 
PROVIDED AT HOME BY PARENTS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—With funds 
appropriated under section 658B(b) for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary may make grants equitably on the basis of the 
demonstrated need of parent caregivers for financial as-