WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act, H.R. 840, with Congressman Hal Rogers’ support. The bipartisan legislation directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to eligible veterans receiving medical services at VA facilities. 

"The Veterans' Access to Child Care Act is a great demonstration of how Congress is supposed to work. Both sides of the aisle came together to support our veterans with young children,” said Congressman Rogers. “Our veterans should never have to choose between receiving the medical attention they need and caring for their children, and this legislation ensures that they will not have to in the future. I hope my friends in the Senate quickly pass this legislation so we can send it to the President.”

Following the passage of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, the VA began carrying out a pilot program to measure the feasibility of providing child care for veterans receiving health and mental health care services from the VA. Because this program has been a great success, Congress has reauthorized and extended this program several times since 2010. H.R. 840, which is supported by veterans service organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, will both reauthorize and expand the program to ensure that all veterans have access to child care services while they are receiving medical care.

The bill overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 400-9 and now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.