[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 202 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 202


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 12, 1998

                                Received

                             April 29, 1998

 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government should 
     acknowledge the importance of at-home parents and should not 
discriminate against families who forgo a second income in order for a 
          mother or father to be at home with their children.

Whereas studies have found that quality child care, particularly for infants and 
        young children, requires a sensitive, interactive, loving, and 
        consistent caregiver;
Whereas most parents meet and exceed the aforementioned criteria, circumstances 
        allowing, often parental care marks the best form of child care;
Whereas the recent National Institute for Child Health and Development study 
        found that the greatest factor in the development of a young child is 
        ``what is happening at home and in families'';
Whereas a child's interaction with his or her parents has the most significant 
        impact on their development, any Federal child care policy should enable 
        and encourage parents to spend more time with their children;
Whereas nearly \1/2\ of preschool children have at-home mothers and only \1/3\ 
        of preschool children have mothers who are employed full time;
Whereas a large number of low- and middle-income families sacrifice a second 
        full-time income so that the mother may be at home with her child;
Whereas the average income of two-parent families with a single income is 
        $20,000 less than the average income of two-parent families with two 
        incomes;
Whereas only 30 percent of preschool children are in paid child care and the 
        remaining 70 percent of preschool children are in families that do not 
        pay for child care, many of which are low- to middle-income families 
        struggling to provide child care at home;
Whereas child care proposals should not provide financial assistance solely to 
        the 30 percent of families that pay for child care and should not 
        discriminate against families in which children are cared for by an at-
        home parent; and
Whereas any congressional proposal that increases child care funding should 
        provide financial relief to families that sacrifice an entire income in 
        order that a mother or father may be at home for their young child: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress recognizes that--
            (1) many American families make enormous sacrifices to 
        forgo a second income in order to have a parent care for their 
        child at home;
            (2) there should be no bias against at-home parents;
            (3) parents choose many legitimate forms of child care to 
        meet their individual needs--an at-home parent, grandparent, 
        aunt, uncle, neighbor, nanny, preschool, or child care center;
            (4) child care needs of at-home parents and working parents 
        should be given careful consideration by the Congress;
            (5) any quality child care proposal should reflect careful 
        consideration of providing financial relief for those families 
        where there is an at-home parent; and
            (6) mothers and fathers who have chosen and continue to 
        choose to be at home should be applauded for their efforts.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 11, 1998.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.