[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4501-S4502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ACT

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to cosponsor the 
Early Childhood Development Act and I commend Senator Kerry for 
introducing this important legislation.
  Recent research has clearly demonstrated what parents and others have 
intuitively known for generations: that experiences in the early 
childhood years lay the foundation for much of later development. 
Children thrive and grow on positive interactions with their parents 
and other adults. Quality child care, quality nutrition, and quality 
health care can make all the difference in enabling infants and 
children to reach their full potential and become contributing members 
of society. Ensuring that children have these experiences early in 
development is much easier and less expensive than coping with later 
crisis problems such as substance abuse, school dropout, and criminal 
behavior.
  The Early Childhood Development Act is a significant step toward 
helping children obtain the multiple supports they need to grow and 
thrive. It builds effectively on the White House summit in April that 
emphasized the very great

[[Page S4502]]

importance of this issue. It will help State and local jurisdictions 
expand their efforts to assist young children and their families. It 
will strengthen Early Head Start, and increase resources for child care 
and nutrition.
  This initiative is extremely important for the Nation's children. I 
look forward to continuing to work with Senator Kerry and others to 
provide children with the opportunities they need and deserve and must 
have in order to help our country for the generations to come.

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