Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) introduced the Cutting Red Tape on Child Care Providers Act. The legislation will prohibit states from creating any barriers on the simple preparation of fresh fruits and vegetables for childcare facilities.

Childcare providers often face restrictions on food preparation that limit parents’ ability to send fresh fruits and vegetables with their kids to daycare.

In many states, including Washington, regulations make it easier for childcare providers to open a pre-packaged, often ultra-processed snack than to peel a banana or cut up an apple. This red tape undermines the ability of childcare providers to support kids’ basic nutrition, local agriculture, and national health.

These regulatory hurdles are especially challenging for small home- and family-based childcare providers, which have been on a steady decline over the past decade and are lifelines for parents working non-traditional hours and rural and low-income families.

“When we send our kids to daycare with fresh fruits and veggies, but small childcare providers can’t even peel a banana for them out of fear the state will shut down their facility, that’s when you know regulations have gotten too convoluted and out of hand,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “By eliminating barriers to simple fresh produce prep, we can reduce burdens on home-based daycares and help our children eat more healthy, nutritious foods instead of ultra-processed snacks.”

“Children thrive when they have access to nutritious meals, but it is not always available at every daycare. This bill cuts through the bureaucracy and gives parents the flexibility to bring foods from home that meet the nutrition needs of their child,” said Chairwoman Foxx. “This bill builds upon the Committee’s ongoing work recognizing that parents know best when it comes to their children. I thank Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez for her leadership on this issue and am pleased to join her in introducing the Cutting Red Tape on Child Care Providers Act of 2024, which puts children at the forefront.”

Rep. Gluesenkamp also introduced the bipartisan Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act to improve access to high-quality, affordable childcare in rural and agricultural communities.

Full text of the bill is available here.