U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin announced on Apr. 22 that the Senate unanimously passed the Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act, a bipartisan bill designed to ensure nationwide background checks for all individuals with unsupervised access to children, including independent contractors hired by schools.
The legislation addresses a gap in federal law that previously complicated the process of requesting background checks for certain child care workers. The CHILD Act aims to close this loophole by authorizing states to request national background checks for school contractors, as well as other child care employees.
“Every individual who works with children must be thoroughly vetted – it’s common sense. The bipartisan CHILD Act will ensure all child care workers, including contractors, are authorized to receive a nationwide background check. I’m glad the Senate acted unanimously to pass this important legislative fix, and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to do the same,” Grassley said.
Durbin also commented on the significance of closing this legal gap: “Kids in schools should be surrounded by the most qualified, caring staff. A loophole in federal law inadvertently complicated the process for requesting background checks for some child care workers, namely school contractors. This bill is a simple fix to ensure nationwide access to background checks for those entrusted with our children. I’m glad to see the Senate pass it unanimously, and I encourage the House to pass it expeditiously.”
The CHILD Act has received endorsements from several organizations focused on student safety and family advocacy.
According to Grassley’s official website, he has been married since 1954 and has five children. He earned degrees in political science from the University of Northern Iowa according to his official website. Grassley assists Iowans with matters involving federal agencies and whistleblowers according to his official website. He also brings experience from serving in the Iowa state legislature from 1958 until 1974 and working as a sheet metal shearer and assembly line worker according to his official website. Additionally, Grassley is one of only two farmers currently serving in the Senate; he actively raises corn and soybeans in Butler County, Iowa according to his official website.
The passage of this legislation reflects ongoing efforts at both state and national levels aimed at increasing safety standards within educational environments.
