H.R. 7726 — Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026

⚖️ Dissenting views on legislation

Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue that the bill eliminates Secretarial discretion and mandates draconian sanctions for noncompliance, which could capriciously disqualify entire states from receiving child care funds. They contend the legislation is based on unproven allegations of widespread fraud and will exacerbate the existing child care crisis by reducing funding available to families. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue the bill imposes burdensome and duplicative reporting requirements on states by forcing them to use novel accounting definitions for improper payments. They assert this will increase administrative costs and divert funds away from families in need, without actually reducing fraud. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue the bill sets an arbitrarily low 5 percent improper payment threshold that would punish states and potentially bar them from the CCDBG program entirely. They contend this gives the HHS Secretary unchecked power to freeze child care funds, which could be weaponized for political retribution. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue the bill grants the HHS Secretary vague and unchecked authority to designate states as 'high risk' and impose additional monitoring without providing extra funding. They express concern that this power could be abused to politicize the program and burden states with unnecessary administrative costs. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue the bill creates significant implementation questions by requiring the HHS Secretary to investigate fraud, a role typically reserved for law enforcement. They also warn that reciprocal debarment between CCDBG and CACFP could lead providers to withdraw from nutrition programs, threatening meal services for children. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views argue the bill removes necessary flexibility by eliminating the HHS Secretary's discretion to waive sanctions for states. They contend this rigid approach could lead to draconian penalties for unintentional administrative errors, ultimately reducing child care funding for families. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views note that while they do not oppose this specific bill, as it largely codifies existing state plan requirements, they believe it is part of a broader, unfounded Republican narrative about widespread fraud that distracts from the actual child care crisis. | Committee on Education and Workforce: Minority views state they do not oppose the GAO study but argue it is part of a broader attempt to sideline the real problems facing child care in America. They believe the Committee's time would be better spent addressing the lack of affordable child care rather than focusing on unproven allegations of widespread fraud.