[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1963]]



                           QUALITY CHILD CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 1997

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, we are learning new information each day 
about just how critical the first 3 years of life are for a child's 
brain development, intellectual growth, and emotional, social, and 
moral development. These factors will help determine the health and 
productivity of a child in later life. In 1993, the National Education 
Goals Panel reported that nearly half of infants in the United States 
do not have what they need to grow and thrive. High quality care from a 
parent or other adult is necessary to facilitate growth and 
development. Five million children under age 3 are in the care of other 
adults while their parents work outside the home. Parents of very young 
children have few child care service options. Many cannot afford to 
stay home with their children or to pay for safe, high quality 
developmental child care services. The Federal Government's involvement 
in the development of our children and grandchildren has become even 
more critical.
  Child care providers are a valuable asset to their communities. Their 
contributions to providing quality child care is the backbone to 
economic stability throughout this country. For example, over 85 
percent of the children in child care in southern Maryland participate 
because their parents work. Without quality child care options, parents 
will not be able to provide their children with the early childhood 
development they need to get a quality start to their future.
  Child care needs in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties in 
southern Maryland are a prime example of the national need for quality 
child care. In 1990, the number of children under age 3 in these three 
counties ranged between 2,500 and 5,000. Child care providers in 
southern Maryland, and throughout the country, are doing a good job at 
meeting child care needs, but there is the possibility that resources 
will become strained in the future. Child care providers cannot provide 
quality services without the Federal Government's support.
  I have been committed to ensuring that the Federal Government provide 
sufficient resources to increase the quality of child care throughout 
the country. One of the programs that I have focused on is the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant. This program makes funds available 
for child care services and activities to improve the availability, 
accessibility, and affordability of child care. A portion of the 
funding is set aside to improve the quality and availability of healthy 
and safe child care for all families, including quality activities such 
as training.
  The Child Care and Development Block Grant was reauthorized last year 
as part of the welfare reform bill. A portion of this legislation 
permitted a slight increase in funding for the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant. But, in order for child care providers to be 
able to provide the type of quality care we all want for our children 
and grandchildren, they need to have access to sufficient resources.
  This is why Congresswoman DeLauro, Congressman McGovern, and I are 
working toward getting child care providers the resources they need by 
further increasing the amount of funding that goes toward the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant. The Early Learning and Opportunity 
Act, which we introduced, does just that. The bill creates flexible, 
competitive State grants to improve the quality of care for children 
under age 3. In addition, it increases funding for Head Start and more 
than doubles funding for Early Head Start, a crucial component to 
quality child care.
  The White House is hosting a conference in October on child care. The 
national attention to be focused on quality child care during this 
conference will be critical. I am confident that it will lead to local 
and national quality child care improvements. I look forward to 
participating in this conference and working with other Members of 
Congress to ensure that early childhood education and child care 
funding this country so desperately needs becomes available.

                          ____________________