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, which aims to secure 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 background check requests for certain child care workers. Lawmakers say this fix is important to ensure children are cared for by qualified staff who have undergone thorough vetting.
“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 said, “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 organizations such as Students Against Destructive Decisions; Student Transportation & Education Equity; Roundtable; Parents Helping Parents Inc.; National Diversity Coalition; RaisingHOPE Inc.; National Center on Adoption & Permanency; Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE); and HopSkipDrive.
According to the official website, Grassley 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. The same source notes that he assists Iowans with matters involving federal agencies and whistleblowers. According to his official biography, Grassley held a position in the Iowa state legislature from 1958 until 1974 and brings experience as a factory worker—specifically as a sheet metal shearer and assembly line worker—to his perspective as senator. He is also one of only two farmers currently serving in the Senate and actively raises corn and soybeans in Butler County, Iowa.
The passage of this legislation marks an effort by lawmakers across party lines toward strengthening protections for children at school or under professional supervision.
