On Thursday, September 19, 2024, legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives regarding the modernization of the federal Au Pair Program. Sponsored by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R, PA-14), the Modernizing the Au Pair Program Act. H.R. 9677 (the MAP Act) addresses important issues that the Alliance has worked with its members and Members of Congress on over the last several years. We applaud the introduction of the bill and are pleased to see Rep. Reschenthaler and other Members of Congress supporting the Au Pair program and engaging on these specific issues that are so important to its continued success.
The MAP Act reaffirms and clarifies the exclusive federal regulatory authority of the Department of State over the Au Pair Program. It also directs the Department to use that regulatory authority to issue a regulation that modernizes and strengthens the program in several key ways. The bill directs the Department to modify the au pair stipend in a uniform national way, while keeping the program affordable and flexible for American families. The bill also highlights the participation of military and first-responder families who have increasingly come to rely on and appreciate the value of the program. Lastly, the bill underscores the importance of au pair immersion in host family culture and life.
All of these topics were key parts of the Alliance’s previous comments on the Department of State’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) earlier this year, and we’re pleased to see them so comprehensively addressed in this legislation. The Alliance looks forward to collaborating with our members and Congressional offices as this bill moves through the legislative process.