1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Access to Child Care for Military Families Act of 2024 . 2. Pilot program to expand early child care options for members of the Armed Forces and their families (a) In general The Secretary of Defense shall direct the Secretaries of the military departments to carry out a pilot program to improve the access of members of the Armed Forces and their families to high quality early child care opportunities by establishing partnerships with eligible child care providers— (1) to increase the capacity of those providers; (2) to improve early child care workforce development; and (3) to increase recruitment and retention of employees for eligible child care providers. (b) Selection of eligible child care providers and networks of such providers (1) In general Under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall direct the Secretaries of the military departments to enter into a total of 12 partnerships with eligible child care providers, or networks of such providers, to, in communities under the jurisdiction of such secretaries— (A) increase the number of early child care slots available to members of the Armed Forces and their families; (B) facilitate recruitment and retention of employees for eligible child care providers; and (C) provide additional professional development opportunities for such employees. (2) Limitation The Secretary may direct the Secretaries of the military departments to enter into not more than one partnership with each eligible child care provider, or network of such providers, under the pilot program required by subsection (a). (3) Locations In selecting eligible child care providers or network of such providers with which to enter into partnerships under the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary— (A) shall direct the Secretaries of the military departments— (i) to ensure that— (I) each partnership is based at a different military installation