Reps. Moore, Tokuda, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring 24-Hour Notice of Alleged Abuse in Military Child Care Programs
Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced bipartisan legislation requiring military child and youth programs to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours after learning of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involving their children that occurred at a military child development center or similar program.
The Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act codifies a Department of Defense (DOD) policy established after it became known that the Department had no requirement to notify parents in such cases. This legislation also goes beyond current policy by requiring the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as well as members of Congress who represent the district where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred, to be notified within 72 hours.
"As the congressional representative of Hill Air Force Base and father to four boys, it is an honor to serve our military community and their families. I’m proud to co-lead legislation that would require the DOD to immediately brief parents over suspected abuse or neglect of minors at DOD childcare facilities and create additional congressional oversight mechanisms," Rep. Moore said. "We must do all we can to ensure safe and healthy environments for all children, including those under the DOD’s care.”
“Parents who entrust their keiki to a military child care center deserve one guarantee: if something happens, they will be told quickly, clearly, and without exception. No family should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to their child’s health, safety, and well-being,” Rep. Tokuda said. “As the mother of two boys, we must demand nothing less for our military families, and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we must ensure effective Congressional oversight and accountability across the military child care system, because no federal agency should be allowed to hide the truth.”
“No parent should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to the safety of their child. I’m glad to co-lead the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act with Rep. Tokuda, which requires programs to notify parents within 24 hours of any suspected abuse or neglect, no exceptions. Our bipartisan bill also requires notifying the Armed Services committees and the Members of Congress for the installation where the incident happened within 72 hours to provide real oversight and ensure these failures are never repeated,” Rep. Bacon said.
Language in the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act is also included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for transparency and protection of military families.
This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Ed Case (D-HI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA), André Carson (D-IN), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), and Donald Davis (D-NC).
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
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